Dear One

Shari ran across to the door. It had to be him. It was time, time for Dear One to be home. The scruffy, dirty-grey, little dog let out an excited yip and a whine as she danced about on her hind legs in front of the closed door.

Then she stilled; something was not right. An insidious sense of wrongness filled the dog. Why did Dear One not come through the door? Why did he smell so … wrong?

To add to her consternation, Shari's other pet ran down the stairs and answered a knock that unexpectedly sounded on the thick, wooden door. Love opened it to reveal two police officers, and Dear One.

More confusion. Why was ‘Dear One’ standing there with policemen? Had he done something bad? Shari sniffed again as she trotted towards him. He sure smelt strange.

The dog shrugged it aside. The strange smell could simply have been the odour of starch and nervous sweat that rose off the two officers.

What is going on?

Curious, Shari stopped in her tracks with pert ears at attention when one of the police officers cleared his throat. The dog sat, eager to listen, eager to hear what mischief Dear One had been involved in. He was such a prankster.

The dog looked at her pet fondly her head cocked in question, but ‘Dear One’ just smiled a sad smile and remained silent.

"Excuse me? Are you Mrs Wainright?" the man in blue asked softly.

"Yes, Officer," Love answered, a puzzled frown marring the soft planes of her face. "What can I do for you?"

"Mrs Wainright, I am Officer Dalright … and this is Officer Edwards! …Uuh! … I am sorry, Mrs Wainright ... there’s no easy way to say this, but there’s been an accident!"

Suddenly Love’s face went pale, a look of pure, sick dread filled her blue eyes."No..." she whispered faintly.

Shari was confused. Why did Love look so scared when Dear One was right there behind the policemen? Why had she not even said hello to her mate? What was the accident to which the officer referred? Shari whined at Dear One.

Why did he not say anything?

Dear One smiled that same sad smile again, and came to stand before her. A familiar hand reached down and stroked Shari's head, scratching her in just the right spot behind her ears. "Look after my love for me, little one!" he whispered his voice filled with pain. "She is going to need your strength and caring over the coming weeks!"

Time stood still as the sad, heartbreaking truth was realised by the dog. The wrongness of his scent, the reason for Love's blindness to Dear One's presence.

Her pet was dead.

And as he slowly faded from sight, Shari realised Dear One had simply come home to say good-bye.