**Diary Entry**
I want to marry someone decent.
*He bought a new sound system,* Emma murmured, not shifting from her stiff position. *An expensive one. Meanwhile, Ive been saving from my paychecks for a new washing machine because ours howls like a siren. He said, You dont appreciate investing in art. In art, Liv Can you believe it?*
The tea in the pot had gone cold, turning into a bitter, dark sludge. Slices of baguette had hardened on the plate, the cheese forming a waxy crust, and Olivia couldnt seem to comfort her friend. Emma had come over after yet another fight with her husband and, having cried herself dry, now sat hugging her knees, staring blankly at the wall with a faded, hollow gaze.
They hadnt seen much of each other in the last three yearsEmmas husband never let her go anywhere alone and generally disliked her friends. But this time, the man had raised his hand to her, and his usual restrictions no longer mattered.
To distract her from the gloom, Olivia offered, *Em, do you want to hear an old love story? I was lucky enough to witness real devotion once.*
Emma gave a lifeless nod. *Go on. Just no sugary fairytales about princes. I cant stomach that right now.*
Olivia stood, walked to the stove, and turned on the burner beneath the kettle. The soft hiss of gas filled the silence.
*No princes, love. This was something I saw with my own eyes,* Olivia smiled. *And it wasnt even about people. I once worked in a warehouse in an industrial estateyou know the kind, with a few stray dogs always hanging around for security. One day, someone dumped two puppies there: a plump little black bear of a dog named Bear and a ginger girl, Rusty. They grew up inseparable. Bear was a rowdy little troublemaker; Rusty was quiet, sharp, with these knowing old-soul eyes. Everyone doted on them.*
Olivia paused. Seeing that Emma had turned toward hereven if her expression was still distantshe continued.
*Then disaster struck. One day, Rusty got hit by a carthe driver didnt see her. We thought she wouldnt make it, but street dogs are tough. Only, she could never walk properly again, dragging her hind legs behind her. And she was so clever, understood everything. It broke your heart to see her like that.*
*Poor thing…* Emma exhaled.
*But you know what?* Olivia grinned. *She didnt give up. She became our best lookout! The moment a stranger stepped onto the premises, she was the first to raise the alarm with her sharp barks. And Bear? Hed charge right where she pointed, the others following. They made a real team.*
Olivias expression grew serious.
*Then Rusty grew older. Her first heat came. And every stray in the neighbourhood descended on our quiet little yard. A pack of hungry, shameless dogs. They hounded hershe couldnt run or fight, just whimpered and crawled to hide at our feet. We shooed them off, but they kept coming back.*
Emma listened, motionless.
*And Bear? Where was Bear?*
*Bear…* Olivia sighed. *At first, he was lost. Ran around barking but didnt dare take on the whole pack. Instincts, scents it all confused him. But then he and Rusty disappeared. Came back three days later. And Bear wasnt the same. He walked ahead, hunched, bristling, a low growl in his throat. Rusty followed. And if any other dog so much as looked at her, Bear turned into a hurricane. He threw himself at them with such fury, youd think hed tear them all apart. He *understood*. Understood she needed protecting.*
Emma clenched her fists. Fresh tears welled, but these were different.
*We thought that was the end of it. No puppies in her state But a month later, Rustys belly swelled. And Bear? He never left her side. Brought her the best bits from his bowl, licked her clean, slept curled up beside her with his head on her side. So gentle, so devoted We all fed her extra, worried over her. Especially the women.*
Olivia turned away. Her voice wavered.
*She went into labour on a sweltering day. We didnt notice at first. Bear was the one who raised the alarm. He didnt howlhe made this awful, panicked whine, darting between our legs, nipping at our trousers, dragging us to where Rusty had hidden under an old porch. But it was too late She was already dying couldnt deliver.*
The ticking of the wall clock was deafening.
*We wrapped her in an old jacket buried her behind the garage. We had to lock Bear in the warehouse for a while. He lost his mindscratching at the door, howling That sound I still hear it sometimes in my dreams. When it was over and we let him out, he tore through the whole yard, sniffing every corner, every gap Searching. And by evening he was gone. Walked off and never came back.*
Olivia wiped her eyes. Emma sat frozen, hands clenched.
*God* she whispered. *Thats love. And me and Mark were just two strangers sharing a flat. Barely notice each other unless were arguing. Otherwise, we just exist in parallel worlds.*
*Maybe its just a rough patch? You were head over heels at the start. It was good once.*
*It was never good, Liv. We fought over every little thing from day one. I wanted the wedding so badly, I dragged Mark to the registry office without thinking. Now Im paying for it. Right, I should go. Thanks for this.*
***
After that night, they barely spoke for months. Work, life, the usual. Theyd grown used to their rare meetings anyway. Occasionally, a message would pop up: *Hey, how are you?* *Alright. You?* *Same.*
Then, on a dreary autumn evening, Emma texted: *Liv, fancy tea? Ill bring cake.* Two hours later, she stood at the door. Behind her was a tall man with a quiet, slightly shy smile.
*Liv, this is Stephen,* Emma said, her eyes shining brighter than Olivia had ever seen. *Were getting married soon.*
Stunned, Olivia let them in. Over tea, Stephen won her over with his steady, unpretentious warmth. He didnt try to impress, but the way he handed Emma her cup, the way he looked at herit said everything.
When he stepped onto the balcony, Olivia gaped at her friend.
*Well? Whered you find him? What about Mark?*
Emma smileda new, happy smile.
*You know, after I left yours that night, I cried the whole way home. But not over Mark. Over Bear and Rusty. Because I saw the plain, brutal truth about my so-called marriagethat no one had ever loved me there. I realised I didnt want to live like that anymore, that I deserved something real. Devotion. Care. If dogs can manage it Anyway, the next morning, I packed my things and left.*
*And Mark?*
*Probably didnt notice at first. Then I reckon he was relieved. He knew we werent right for each other either. I wasnt even looking for anyonewanted to be alone for a while. Met Stephen outside the courthouse. Literally bumped into him in the doorway. I was a mess, nearly in tears, and he stopped me*You alright?* Turned out hed just got his freedom too. We got talking went for coffee. And well,* Emma rested a hand on her stomach. *Babys on the way.*
*You dont waste time, do you?* Olivia smirked.
*Didnt expect it myself. But Liv its *good* with him. I finally know what its like to be part of something whole. To feel safe. Loved. You see it, dont you?*
Olivia looked at her friend, nodding, smiling through the tears in her eyes.
