I closed the door to my car, the sound like a gunshot. I don’t know why I ended up here, only that I had nowhere else to go.
And that had been what led me to him all those years ago.
I walked up the worn path that cut through the trees. It looped around by a stream that edged the property. I had traversed these woods many times. I knew exactly where the road would lead me.
I heard him before I saw him, my heart speeding up in my chest.
I edged through the trees until I was at the bottom of his yard. I could make him out in the moonlight. I could hear his laughter and it made me smile.
What was he doing?
A huge figure barreled past me and I almost wet myself.
“Come here, Murphy!” I heard Flynn call out and the furry creature trotted up the yard carrying a stick in his mouth.
I stepped out into the open, barely able to believe what was right in front of me.Mydog,myMurphy, was running as fast as his gangly doggie legs could carry him toward Flynn, who slapped his thighs, encouraging him to run faster.
Murphy dropped the stick on the ground at Flynn’s feet. Flynn knelt beside the dog I loved and scratched his head, running his fingers through his fur. I could still hear him laughing, even though I couldn’t see his face in the darkness.
I started walking toward them, barely able to breathe. Barely able to contain the tears that prickled behind my eyelids.
As if sensing my presence, Murphy started running back down the hill, towards me. He jumped up, his paws landing on my stomach, just as he had done when I’d let him out of his cage at the shelter.
He toppled me over backwards and I landed with a whoosh on my backside. Murphy’s tongue lapped my cheek, his hot doggie breath filling my nose.
“Good boy,” I crooned, scratching underneath his chin just how I knew he liked it.
“He likes you.” I looked over my shoulder to find Flynn approaching.
I laughed as Murphy nudged my chin with the top of his head. I thought I’d never see him again. I had spent a better part of my day fixated on what had become of him. And here he was, with the one person I knew would love him as much as I did.
“I can’t believe it was you that adopted him,” I said in between breathless giggles.
“What?” Flynn asked, clearly confused.
I got to my feet, Murphy pressed against my legs.
“You got him from the shelter. I volunteer there. I’ve been taking care of Murphy since he was brought in over the summer,” I explained, still in disbelief thatmydog washere. Only he wasn’tmydog anymore. He wasFlynn’sdog. And that made me incredibly happy.
“Do you want to play with us?” Flynn asked, smiling shyly. His innocent question was all it took to turn my night around.
I had left Dania’s upset and conflicted.
And I had found my way here.
I had found my way home.
I grabbed the ball from Flynn’s hand and tossed into the air before catching it. Murphy wagged his tail and reared up on his hind legs trying to take it from me.
“Go long, Flynn!” I cried, winding back my arm to throw the bed.
“Where am I going?” Flynn asked, jogging backwards.
I chuckled, pointing to a spot on the other side of the yard that was visible in the spotlight shining from the porch.
“Over there! I’m going to toss this to you. Murphy loves this game. When you catch it throw it right back,” I instructed, feeling an almost indescribable joy.
“Okay. I’ll throw it back to you after I catch it,” Flynn confirmed, repeating back to me the directions I had just given him.
