I was only meant to be picking up cat litter and trash bags. That’s all.
Out and in. However, as I pulled into the Walmart parking lot, I noticed a large,
unkempt dog sitting close to the cart return, perhaps waiting for someone who never returned.
He didn’t yell. remained motionless. observed each car as if it were the one.
With my hands out, I approached slowly. He didn’t recoil. simply raised those weary, uncertain eyes to me.
He leaned his entire body against me as if he had been holding himself together all day and had
ust let go as I knelt down to check if he had a tag.
Then—he gave me a leg hug.
I am not joking at all. With his chin lying on my knee and one paw wrapped around my shin,
he appeared to have made up his mind at that same moment, “You. You’re secure.
