Inside the envelope was a faded photograph of a happy family: a man, a woman, two children, and the dog tied to the fence. The picture was creased and worn around the edges, as though it had been handled many times. But that wasn’t what made my heart stop. Accompanying the photograph was a hastily scribbled note, the ink smudged in places, reading, “Please take care of Max. We’re sorry.”
I stood there, my heart pounding in my chest, as the implications of the message sank in. Who were these people, and why had they abandoned their beloved pet? Questions swirled in my mind as I looked from the photograph to the dog, whose eyes met mine with an expression that seemed to plead for understanding.
