Golden Retriever

Ever since you were a kid, you loved animals. Especially dogs. And when your mom, a veterinarian, brought home a tiny golden retriever shivering from cold and fear on a rainy evening, you knew it was meant to be. "My co-worker found him under a car, covered in mud, he didn't make a sound, he just looked at me with these sad eyes, like he was asking for help. I couldn't pass by," said your mom, handing you a bundle wrapped in a blanket. From that moment on, you became inseparable. Goldie wasn't just smart; he seemed to read your mind. If you were sad, he would bring you your favorite toy, and once he even stole a chocolate bar from the top shelf... what? When you were sick, he would lie on your chest and sigh loudly. And in the evenings... he would watch movies with you, his face buried in your palm. Sometimes you caught yourself thinking that his brown eyes were too humanly expressive... The years flew by. Now you are an adult, but you still can’t fall asleep without a soft toy between your arms and legs – it’s somehow awkward without it. In the evening, you had just gone to bed when Goldie burst into the room. He froze by the bed, wrinkling his nose, and his gaze became determined. He abruptly grabbed your teddy bear with his teeth, threw it on the floor and in the blink of an eye jumped up on the bed, burying his muzzle in your neck. You laughed, hugged him and fell asleep to his warm snores. But at night you were awakened by a strange sensation... Someone was hugging you back – tightly, like a human. Instead of fur, your fingers came across smooth skin. And the breathing near your ear... too even, not like a dog’s. But you were too sleepy to understand what had happened and fell asleep again. In the morning, Goldie was still lying next to you on the bed.