My Paul is a cat person. I hate cats and always wanted a dog. So we agreed when we moved in, ‘No Pets.’ We even shook on it.
But when one day I was walking home and found this husky pup stuffed inside a box on top of a skip, shivering, I couldn’t help it. I scooped him up and took him home.
Paul was furious when he saw me in the hall.
‘Look at him! He’s starving,’ I pleaded. ‘I couldn’t just leave him.’
‘Feed him. Then he’s out.’
I fed him, washed him and gave him a bed for the night. Next morning I gave him a name; Skippy.
Paul was all scowls.
‘Look at him!’ I kept saying.
But by then I knew I was winning the argument. Whenever he thought I wasn’t looking, Paul would pet Skippy and slide him a biscuit.
The dog stayed.
Then the accident happened. I was driving and a car came out of nowhere. I crashed, broke my spine and been in a coma ever since. Well, sort of a coma. I can still hear, smell, feel everything around me, but can neither speak nor move.
The doctors said there’s nothing else to be done and Paul took me home and became my nurse. He would sit and talk to me often at first. But I could never respond, and I could feel him losing heart. He was alone, sad.
Skippy was always there. I would feel his breath warming my hand, never a bark.
‘Skip, it’s just you and me now,’ I heard Paul saying one day.
Skippy whined and I heard Paul succumbing to a sob.
‘You still love me don’t you old boy?’
Skippy whined again.
I could hear Paul talking to Skippy after that. They kept each other company, took care of one another, and me.
Now I bet Paul feels lucky that, at least, he has Skippy. I’d love to ask him, but I guess, I’ll never know.
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Hello Trifectans, veterans and newbies. As you know, the word today is the adjective Lucky. Hope you like my attempt.
Sandra's scribbles 
Powerful and heart-wrenching. Wonderfully written. Nice job
Thanks a lot Marisa, I’m glad you enjoyed it.
Oh my. This is quite a story.
Thanks Ted 🙂
You left me thinking is this fiction or non Sandra? Such a heart warming tale of courage and devotion between a loyal dog and his master/s.
There are parts which are true; that I love dogs, my boyfriend loves cats and I ambushed him with – not one, but two – dogs one day. But thank heavens, that’s were reality ends. Thanks a lot for reading.
I like your style with the ambush as well as your writing then.
That was really touching and beautifully written. Gave me goosebumps. At first I wondered if you were recounting something from your own life, but I figured that was not the case when you mentioned the accident. Well done. 🙂
Thanks a lot Zen A. and I am very happy to have you on my blog.
Wow, that is my biggest fear: Trapped in a body that doesn’t work, yet cognizant of everything around me.
This tore at me… first, the happenstance of the dog, and the “conversion” of Paul. The accident took me by surprise, and that terrible circumstance of hearing him say that to the dog… Oh, this was good, if heartbreaking. Glad I posted to Trifecta, so I could meet you! Peace, Amy Barlow Liberatore
And I am very glad to meet you Amy. Thanks for reading and commenting on my post.
That’s very sad. Heartbreaking in fact. Well done.
Thank you Sandra
Wow, a moving story. Very well done. http://annbennett2.blogspot.com
Thanks a lot for reading
Such a sad story. Until the coma part, I thought this was personal experience. This tugged at my emotions – I really wanted her to ‘wake up!’
You’re not the first the say that, I had no idea it was going to feel this realistic as I wrote it. Thanks a lot for your comment 🙂
So wistfully sad – almost as if she were talking about someone else.
A character with a practical view on life; no room for self-pity. Thanks for your comment 🙂
I was hoping this was one of those “pet wakes owner from coma” stories ): But maybe there’s still room for that ending! (: This is a bitter-sweet piece. “Look at him!”–loved it.
I don’t know about that; I love bittersweet endings! Thanks a lot for reading Draug,
How sad & yet sweet!Dogs are such loyal creatures-glad Paul & Skippy had each other!A poignant tale written beautifully:-)
Thanks a lot Atreyee, I really appreciate your comment.
A beautifully written story. So so sad.
Thank you Lumdog.