February 9th | A Forever Friend for Valentine’s Day

By Cynthia Kirkeby

The chilly winter wind nipped at the small puppy’s ears as he wandered down the empty street. His fur, once soft and golden, was now matted with dirt, and his ribs pressed against his thin skin. He’d been left by the roadside weeks ago, the scent of his humans now a faint memory. Each passing car brought a flicker of hope that faded as they sped by. He was completely alone and he wasn’t sure how he would make it through the rest of the winter.

Even though things looked terribly bleak, the puppy didn’t give up. His big brown eyes scanned every face of every passerby. He didn’t know exactly what he was searching for, but deep in his little heart, he knew he’d recognize it when he saw it.

On the edge of town, near a small restaurant with frosted windows and a sign that read The Cozy Cafe, a young woman named Emma sat with a steaming cup of coffee and a book. She had moved to this quiet town a short time ago, looking for a fresh start. She often felt as though she, too, was searching for something—or someone. What or who she didn’t know. There was just a feeling of anticipation, that something important was just around the corner.

As she sipped her hot coffee and let her mind wander, her gaze drifted beyond the cafe to the street. A slight movement in a corner of the yard a skinny little puppy caught her eye. It looked like he was having a particularly rough day. He was curled up next to the wall trying to shield himself from the bitter wind, shivering, but even now, his head was slightly tilted as if he were listening for the sound of kindness. Emma’s heart clenched. She quickly grabbed her scarf slipped her book in her purse, and stepped outside.

“Hey there, little guy,” she said softly, crouching down. The puppy’s ears perked up, and he hesitated for only a moment before trotting over to Emma, his tail wagging cautiously. She gently scooped him into her arms. Feeling his tiny body tremble, she wrapped her warm scarf around his little body.

“You’re coming home with me,” she whispered.

The days that followed were filled with a warm bath, delicious food, and lots of belly rubs. Emma named the puppy Max, and he quickly became her shadow. He followed her everywhere. He felt so special. Emma had bought him a new bed and a wonderful squeaky toy shaped like a heart. Even more wonderful was the way Emma always scratched behind his ears just right. For the first time in his life, Max felt safe and loved.

A few days later, Emma woke to a surprise. Max was sitting by her bed with the local morning newspaper in his mouth. His tail wagging furiously. She laughed as she took the paper from him, but when she saw the front page, she laughed and scooped Max up into her arms.

“Hey! We made the front page!”

There, in bold letters, was the headline: Abandoned Puppy Finds Forever Home on Valentine’s Day. Below it was a picture of Max curled up in Emma’s lap, taken by a passerby the day she found him.

Emma hugged Max and said. “You’re my forever friend. I guess you were what I was looking for all this time,” her voice was thick with emotion and Max nuzzled his head against her neck. Emma loosened her hug and looked down at the adorable puppy. Max barked happily as if he understood. For the first time in both their lives, they had found exactly what they’d been searching for – each other.

Special Gifts for Your Forever Friend at Valentine’s Day