4 Sammy.

"As the mourning doves sang God's song for us,

They were warning us.

They were mourning our love...

They cried over us,

It was over for us."

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-ELIZABETH-

I walk through the empty streets that have been engulfed by darkness. I walked to work this morning, hence why i'm not driving.

The street lights ever so slightly illuminate the path but only in small circles where the light directly hits the ground.

This place feels a lot safer than New York. I feel as though I can walk carelessly through the streets without any fear of getting stolen from or-

I'm forced out of my thoughts when I hear a strange noise behind me. I freeze for a moment, then I hear the noise again.

My body goes into fight or flight, and of course (like the coward I am) I choose flight, so I pick up pace without looking back, when I hear the noise again.

I have no choice but to look back at this point, so I do.

I sigh in relief when I discover that the 'strange noise' is coming from the most adorable thing to ever exist. A puppy! I crouch down to the puppy's level, and I see that it looks as though it's injured its paw "Aww baby what's wrong?" I coo.

The puppy lets out another painful cry, so I pick it up and head back home with it.

I've always wanted a puppy but Daddy is, sorry, was allergic to fur. Finding this vulnerable little puppy on the street, at night, without a collar feels like the universe's way of apologizing for all the shit it's put me through. I look up to the sky "It's okay universe I forgive you now." I smile and walk off with the puppy in my arms.

~~~

"He's going to be okay right?" I ask the vet who is attending to the puppy I found last night.

"He'll be just fine; it was only a splinter"

I sigh in relief.

"Let me just finish up the paperwork and you and your puppers will be good to go" he grins.

I sit in the hospital reception and think of names to give my new puppy who I also learnt is a golden retriever.

I settle on the name Sammy.

The vet enters the reception with Sammy in his arms.

"Take extra care of him, okay?" he hands Sammy over to me "Just make sure he's off his paws for a bit, the splinter was in there deep so I suspect it's going to hurt if he tries to walk."

"I will take excellent care of him doc, no need to worry" I wink then look into Sammy's little doggy eyes and smile "Thank you for coming into my life Sammy." I whisper then place a kiss on his tiny little forehead.

He aggressively licks my face as if understanding my statement.

Walking out the vet, I have the largest grin on my face. For the first time in the past few days, I have more to be happy about than I have to cry for.

The first thing on my agenda before I have to go back to work, is to buy Sammy a bunch of cute pet accessories and toys.

I walk into the pet store and pick up every single pet item in site without any regard to price.

After a very exciting doggy shopping spree, I head back to the library with Sammy in my arms.

"Afternoon Gertrude!"

"Hey sugar"

"Sorry I'm late, the vet appointment took a bit longer than expected."

"No worries Liza." She smiles.

Every time she calls me Liza with a smile on her face, I can't help but feel guilt arise in me but I'll have to get used to it one way or the other.

"Anything you need me to do?"

She motions to a box on the ground "Another box for the historical section."

"Okay I'll get to it" I walk over to hand Sammy to her "take care of my baby"

"gladly" she walks away with Sammy in her arms.

The day is over and I can finally take Sammy home. I walk to my car when I notice a poster stuck to the wall next to me.

MISSING PUPPY

I walk towards it.

SMALL GOLDEN RETRIEVER.

Its probably a coincidence. I continue to look along the paper, when I see a picture. A picture of Sammy.

PLEASE RETURN TO THIS ADDRESS IF FOUND:

Right under those words was an address. I stood In front of the poster reading it over and over again.

I look down at Sammy laying happily in my arms.

"Nah, not gonna happen." I turn around and walk to my car.

The car ride was long, all I could think about is the fact that I have someone else's dog.

I walk into my apartment and sit down on my couch leaving Sammy to snuggle into my fluffy white rug.

As I stare at him, the address on the poster reoccurs in my head, over and over again.

I now more than ever understand how much it hurts to lose something or someone you love. This understanding washed me over with guilt.

I look up to my ceiling "Hey there Universe. You sure you don't wanna reconsider ruining my life again?"

The guilt inside of me remains.

"Remember when I thanked you? Yeah no I take that back, you deserve a big ol' fuck you Universe." I put my middle finger up to the ceiling.

I pick up a sleeping Sammy and walk out of my apartment, to my car.

The apartment complex that was in the address on the poster is incredible. Much more modern on the outside than mine.

I walk in and take the stairs up to the apartment.

I let out a string of curse words for the Universe one more time before knocking on the door.

No response.

"Well then I guess no-body's home-"

"Can I help you?" I'm cut off by a deep and husky voice.

I turn around to see a man, a very attractive man. Some might even say sculpted by God. He's dressed in office trousers and a black t-shirt that hugs him perfectly, showing off his muscly arms and beautifully muscular torso. His brown hair is wet and messy. His eyes are grey and cold. His face carries a tired and angry expression. But what's the most captivating to me is his height.

We all love a tall man.

I know I certainly do.

He towers over me and looks down into my eyes, still waiting for a response to his previous question.

"How tall are you?" I blurt.

"I'm sorry?" His tired face now confused.

"Never mind" I nervously chuckle, "Erm, do you live here?" I motion to the door I'm standing in front of with my head.

"Yes." He straitens up and crosses his arms over his chest, "Who are you?"

I don't answer his question, "Well, I saw the poster and I think he belongs to you." I stretch my arms forward, handing Sammy over to him.

"You found Ralph"

I laugh "Ralph?"

He furrows his eyebrows and cocks his head to the side now his face carries annoyance "Is there something funny?"

"Gosh, you're intimidating." His mouth opens as if about to say something when I interrupt, "What's funny is he doesn't look like a Ralph at all" I giggle, he still remains quiet "Damn, I would've expected Sam- I mean Ralph's owner to be a little more approachable and a lot less," I use my index finger to draw circles in his direction "A lot less you I guess."

"And what's that supposed to mean?" he clenches his jaw.

"Jeez, relax." I put Ralph into his arms and he receives him "I'll be on my way now." I salute and turn away from him when I feel him grab onto my arm.

His perfect face now portrays anger and confusion, he scans my face as if searching for something in it. His close proximity and the chilling aura he radiates makes me uncomfortable and quite frightened yet also a little intrigued.

His grey, cold eyes continue to pierce into mine, "I've got to go now" I say.

"Thank you." He lets go of my wrist and gives me a smile, a smile that instantly made my heart melt, almost removing the fear from my body.

Despite how creepy he is, he could almost be the perfect man, he has the looks, the height all he needs is a personality.

"No problem." I smile confusedly and with that, I turn around and run out of the apartment building.

I jump into my car and slam the door shut, "That was weird." I say before starting my car and driving home.

I pull up back to my apartment building, as I'm about to get out, I notice the reflection of all of the pet stuff I got for Sam- I mean Ralph in my back seat.

I turn to look at them and sigh, "Guess it really is just me, myself and I."

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Song: Mourning doves by Jhene Aiko.

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