CHAPTER 3: MAN’S BEST FRIEND

I'll be there no matter what,

I'll be here right by your side.

I'll stand guard for you at night.

I'll keep you safe no matter what.

He was sitting on this fluffy mat. He seemed to be sad so I walked towards him and gave him a big hug. Tried to do fun stuff like running around in circles, jumping in the air, and playing with the ball. A small smile escapes from his mouth, I know my efforts are not in vain. I'm kinda proud of myself.

"HARRY!"

Agh! It was that woman again! She always interrupts our playtime. She walks over to Harry and pinches his ears. Dragging him inside the house. I wanted to go after him. I wasn't allowed inside the house.

A long time ago Harry found me in the alley. It was raining very hard and I was all alone. Harry picked me up and brought me here. At first, the woman did not agree but Harry persuaded her and in the end, she agreed.

Now that I think about it, there was a man living here before. He smells and stinks. He and the woman are always shouting and fighting one another. That makes Harry very sad and lonely.

The sky starts to rumble. The birds are chirping louder. It was about to rain. Thankfully I have a shelter to hide from. I walk towards my shelter and sleep, waiting for the rain to stop.

I can hear them shouting and arguing. I can smell the sadness lingers in the air. Harry ran towards his shelter and closed the door. The woman sat on the table and pulled out a nasty liquid. The smell of it irritates my nose, even when I'm outside. I can still smell this yucky stinky.

After a few shots, the woman was knocked out. I pity Harry for having someone like her in his life. As the wind gets vigorous, debris is scattered around the yard.

Ah… It's gonna be a long day today. I opened the door and walked my way to Harry's shelter. I was very careful not to wake up the woman because if she finds out that I'm going to visit Harry again inside she will be mad.

After all pooping, there is quite nice. Anyways, as I knock on the door. I can sense loneliness in him. He opened the door and I immediately rushed over to him knocking us both on the ground.

We both laugh as we fall down. We played that day and did not think about the awful weather outside.

Every day, Harry would go out in the house and come back when the sun was about to set. I tried to follow him once and noticed that he goes to this big shelter with other kids his age.

And at night he would sneak out of the house and go back a few hours before sunrise. I notice that he looks very tired when he comes back. I always comfort him when he gets back.

"Watch over the house okay?" Said, Harry.

I nodded my head and he left. The woman also felt in a hurry, as always. I went to my shelter and guarded the house like any other day.

Sometimes when he is not going to the big shelter, he and the woman go out and always have food to go. I always wonder where they are headed to. I tried to follow them once but I was caught by Harry and I was sent back home.

*Knock *knock

Ahh, who is this? It's very strange. Did Harry forget his keys again? Now that I think about it he did not smell like Harry or the woman. So I confront the person. I began to bombard him with some questions.

As expected he left. I notice that he has something in his hands, it's a box. Did Harry order something? Or is it the woman?

Oh well, nice try burglar. I will report this to Harry later. Sometimes when I'm bored I tend to have a chit-chat with others in the neighborhood, getting the latest issue in town.

At last, the woman returned first. She noticed the box on the door and opened it. She burst into tears as she took the things inside the box.

I can sense that she was quite glad about the things inside the box. She took out her phone and called someone.

A Few hours later Harry came. The woman told her something. I guess it has to do with the box earlier. They hugged each other and a few tears slipped into Harry's eyes.

Harry noticed me and hugged me too. I like it when Harry hugs me. The woman patted my head unexpectedly but it was quite nice. I can see in her eyes that she was happy about it and I'm quite glad that she does.

The next day Harry and the woman wake up early in the morning. The sun has not yet risen but they are already packed up. As always they bring some food out and this time they also bring the box. You can see in their eyes the excitement that they have.

Harry walked towards me and kissed me on the head. I was excited, I hugged him with joy in my heart. We bid farewell and they left.

When I was about to go back to my shelter. I noticed that there were keys on the door. I think that they forgot to take the keys with them.

I sigh deeply and guard the door viciously. A few minutes later no one came. So I took the matters into my own hands.

I grab the keys and follow their scent. The path I take is quite familiar to me. It's the food place! This is where many foods and many stinky people are not willing to share their food.

Harry always shares his food with me~ Not lossing my sight of goal. I continued to search for Harry and the woman.

As I passed by the food place. There was a big shelter. Bigger than Harry's shelter! It's my first time seeing this!

I was about to cross the road when I noticed someone from the other side. It was Harry! I'm so happy that I saw him! Now I just need to cross this road and give this to him.

I happily cross the road without any problem and walk towards Harry. He noticed me and patted my head. He took the keys and said,

"Thanks, bud. You will meet her sooner. She's coming home."

I smiled at him while he happily pats my head. I glance at Harry's back and there is a man wearing a black cloak.

I can't smell him…

As if he does not have a body…

I know one thing is for sure…

He's not here for me...

I started to freak out. My instincts tell me that I can't let him talk to Harry. I confronted the man and I started to yell at him.

The man in a black cloak stares at me deeply. I'm super scared but for Harry, I will do anything!

"I come forth to you. Your time has come to an end. I'm -----I will allow you to grant one wish before you perish however your wish should not validate the law of the living and the death."

"Hey! I'm just here to protect Harry! What are you talking about !"

He just repeated the same thing. I looked at Harry and saw the incoming bus. I don't know what happened but I was very fixated on the bus…

It was like everything became slow.

The man repeated his words, same tone, and the same emotions. Now I realize it... the driver on the bus was not paying attention.

And it's heading towards us! Fast!

I tried to get Harry out of the busway but he was not responding to me. I yell, scream at him but to no avail.

I looked at the man in a black cloak and pleaded with him to take Harry to safety but he only said.

"Your wish should not grant your life nor the life of death or cause death to others. What fate gives you, that's your destiny."

"When I wish Harry was safe!"

"Your wish should not grant your life nor the life of death or cause death to others. What fate gives you, that's your destiny."

"What are you talking about? Harry is right here, well and alive!"

I was stunned after processing his words…

So...Harry's going to die here?

No…

No! It can't be true! Please no…

I don't want to be alone again…

My mother abandoned me when I was little, with no food, and no shelter. Can barely walk properly to find food, just relying on the trash cans left by other people, but they are already scavenged by others.

Rainy days are much worse. As the rain pours, the cold breeze shivers throughout my body. At that time I hated rainy days but when I met Harry everything had changed.

He's the only one that cares about me. He gave me shelter, food, and especially...happiness. Thinking about it makes me sad.

"I'm ready to make a wish"

I stand tall and proud as I make my wish.

"What is your wish?"

"I want to make Harry and his pack safe."

"Your wish should not grant your life nor the life of death or cause death to others."

"In exchange for my life."

"What fate gives you, that's your destiny."

"This is my destiny. Isn't it?"

"Your desire will be fulfilled."

After that everything was back to normal speed. Without any warnings, my body started to move and push Harry away.

Then the bus hit me, knocking me a few feet away. My head kept spinning hard and I couldn't feel my body.

Ah...this is the end…

I'm quite thankful for Harry. For being the sun on my rainy days.

I hope that he became happy with his life and for the woman and man who gives me food when I'm sleeping. *laugh*

Please be happy, all of you...Thank you for everything.

"Now it is time for you to go."

"Thanks…"

After the bus crashes towards us. Harry was very shocked about what happened. He rushed over but he was too late.

He hugged his friend like there is no blood dripping from it. Crying heavily, the people around took pity on him and did nothing.

The bus driver was arrested and the company for the driver was sued big time. It turns out that the company has legality issues and this became the key for the authorities to jeopardize the company.

In the process, Harry and his family were given a large amount of money because of this.

The money has covered a lot of their expenses just like the hospital bills of his sister who has cancer. He also stops doing his night shifts every Monday to Friday to help his mother's citrus sales and he told his father to come back and there is no need for him to stay abroad as a janitor.

After that they built two businesses, the first was about citrus and the second is a rescue center for animals.

As years have passed the family's bond has become stronger than ever. Even though they became rich, their roots are still intact to the ground. They help many not just people but also animals and the environment.

At the dinner they recall the past events that happen in their lives, like how his sister was diagnosed with cancer, his father is just a janitor, and his mother is a sales clerk.

They are very thankful for what they have and also they did not forget it and how it changed their life. And every once a month they will go to their private graveyard and bring flowers.

Here Lays A Great Friend

Who Sacrifices Ones Over Self