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<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
I had many boring moments everymorning. I was just sitting, gripping the steering wheel, wondering, \u201cWhat\u2019s the point of anything when you feel like you\u2019re just\u2026 surviving?\u201d<\/p>\n
But that day, my mind drifted back to a man who once reminded me that life DOES have a purpose.<\/p>\n
His name was Vincent, the man who NEVER SMILED.
\nWhen my dad passed away, I packed up my life and moved into his old house with my two boys, Ashton and Adam \u2014 12 and 14, all lanky limbs and always naughty.<\/p>\n
In the night we move to this house, I found Adam crying in his new room, clutching an old photo of his grandfather. \u201cI miss him, Mom,\u201d he whispered. \u201cAnd sometimes\u2026 sometimes I miss Dad too. Even though I know I shouldn\u2019t.\u201d<\/p>\n
My husband had departed years ago, choosing another woman over us.<\/p>\n
My mother had walked out when I was little, so I knew better than to count on anyone. It was just us three against the world now.<\/p>\n
And then there was Vincent, my neighbor. His house sat right next to ours and was always quiet.<\/p>\n
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\nImage for illustrative purpose only.
\n\u201cMorning,\u201d I\u2019d say when I see him.<\/p>\n
\u201cMorning,\u201d he\u2019d answer.<\/p>\n
And that was the extent of our relationship. Just a \u201cMorning,\u201d \u201cHi,\u201d and \u201cHello\u201d\u2026 and nothing more.<\/p>\n
Until my boys brought home what I had prohibited them for years.
\n\u201cMom, look what we got!\u201d Ashton yelled.<\/p>\n
\u201cExcuse me? Where did you get that?\u201d I asked.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe was free,\u201d Adam added quickly. \u201cThis lady was giving them away. She said if no one took them, they\u2019d end up in a shelter.\u201d<\/p>\n
I crossed my arms. \u201cAnd you thought bringing home a puppy was the solution?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cHe\u2019s small!\u201d Ashton argued. \u201cHe won\u2019t eat much.\u201d<\/p>\n
I snorted. \u201cYeah, buddy, I was small once too. Look how that turned out.\u201d<\/p>\n
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\n\u201cPlease, Mom!\u201d Adam begged. \u201cWe\u2019ll take care of him. You won\u2019t have to do ANYTHING.\u201d<\/p>\n
Then came the puppy-dog eyes from Ashton. \u201cPleeeeease, Mom. You\u2019re gonna love him\u2026 he\u2019s so cute.\u201d<\/p>\n
My breath caught. Dad had always wanted us to have a dog, but my fear of attachment and loss had always won out.<\/p>\n
I sighed, looking at the pup.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat\u2019s his name?\u201d I asked.<\/p>\n
\u201cAsher!\u201d Ashton declared.<\/p>\n
\u201cNo way,\u201d Adam countered. \u201cHe looks like a Simba.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cMom, say which one\u2019s better.\u201d<\/p>\n
I rubbed my temples. \u201cI don\u2019t know, guys, he looks like a \u2014\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cSimba it is!\u201d I decided.<\/p>\n
Two weeks later, we were walking Simba down the street when I heard Vincent\u2019s voice for the first time beyond our usual greetings.<\/p>\n
\u201cMiss, may I have a word?\u201d<\/p>\n
I turned, surprised. He was sitting at his fence, watching us. Or rather, watching Simba.<\/p>\n
I hesitated but walked over, waving my hand. \u201cYes?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI used to train German Shepherds,\u201d he said. \u201cBack when I was in the service.\u201d<\/p>\n
Something about the way he said \u201cused to\u201d sent a dull ache through my chest.<\/p>\n
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<\/p>\n
Image for illustrative purpose only.
\n\u201cWould you mind if I pet him?\u201d he added.<\/p>\n
He turned his chair toward his house. I heard a loud CR.A.S.H.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m fine,\u201d he muttered.<\/p>\n
\u201cNo, you\u2019re not,\u201d I said softly. \u201cAnd that\u2019s okay.\u201d<\/p>\n
His eyes met mine, filled with years of unspoken pain. \u201cSometimes I forget,\u201d he whispered. \u201cI reach for things like I used to, like my legs still\u2026\u201d His voice broke.<\/p>\n
His gaze was locked on one particular photo \u2014 a younger Vincent in the middle of a field.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat\u2019s Shadow,\u201d he pointed to the largest dog. \u201cShe saved my life twice during my deployment. The last time\u2026\u201d He swallowed hard. \u201cThe last time cost us her own.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI miss it,\u201d he admitted. Dogs were my whole world. My family. My everything.\u201d<\/p>\n
He hesitated before adding, \u201cI didn\u2019t marry. Didn\u2019t want kids. Didn\u2019t feel the need to. They were enough.\u201d<\/p>\n
His eyes welled up. \u201cWhy? Why would you want to help a broken old man?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cBecause no one\u2019s broken,\u201d I said, thinking of my own scars. \u201cWe\u2019re all just\u2026 waiting to feel whole again.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI don\u2019t know if I can still do this,\u201d he wearily admitted. \u201cIt\u2019s been years.\u201d<\/p>\n
I stepped closer. \u201cThen try.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAlright,\u201d he said. \u201cI\u2019ll do it.\u201d<\/p>\n
A smile pushed its way through my lips, even as my eyes burned.<\/p>\n
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<\/p>\n
Image for illustrative purpose only.
\nFrom that day on, Vincent became a member in my family. Every afternoon, he sat in our yard, playing with my boys through commands, corrections, and rewards.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, Simba transformed from a hyper pup to a disciplined, intelligent dog. And my boys? They grew more patient and more responsible.<\/p>\n
And Vincent? He was alive again. His life was filled with purpose, laughter, and something he thought he\u2019d lost forever.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
I had many boring moments everymorning. I was just sitting, gripping the steering wheel, wondering, \u201cWhat\u2019s the point of anything when you feel like you\u2019re just\u2026 surviving?\u201d… <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":21179,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-21178","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"yoast_head":"\n