He cried out, raw and broken, while the dog whimpered softly, pressing closer to him as if she too knew their time was running out.
— “You are my girl… my faithful one…” he whispered, his hands trembling as he stroked her back again and again.
“What will you do without me?..”
She looked back at him with eyes full of loyalty, and he whispered once more:
— “Forgive me… for leaving you alone.
I couldn’t prove the truth… but at least with you, I was never forgotten.”
Even the Guards Looked Away
Around them, the guards stood frozen. Some turned their faces, unable to watch. Even the toughest among them couldn’t stay unmoved.
Before their eyes was not just a prisoner, but a man clinging to the only piece of his world left.
With his voice breaking, he lifted his eyes to the warden:
— “Take care of her…”
He promised not to resist, only begging that his dog be given a home.
The Last Goodbye
The silence in the yard grew heavier, pressing down on everyone.
Suddenly, the dog barked sharply, her cry echoing like a protest against what was about to happen.
The man pulled her close one final time, holding her as tightly as anyone could when saying goodbye forever.
