…»And I crowned you… And gave you to no one… And loved you as best I could… And kissed you… Kissed you… Kissed you… Kissed you…»
James was soaring on wings of love, speeding home on his cherished motorbike after three months away on a rig. The thick wad of pounds in his inner pocket warmed him pleasantly. His heart sang as he raced toward his beloved Emily. Spring was in the air, the crisp breeze brushing his face. «And I crowned you…».
Passing over a small bridge, he caught movement from the corner of his eyea dog, struggling in the icy river, weak and barely keeping its head above water. «Kissed you… Kissed you…»his favourite song still played, urging him home to his wife. «Poor pup,» James muttered, but he rode on.
Emilys smiling face… Spring… Love… And that wretched dog, trapped in the freezing water. Damn it! James swore under his breath and turned his bike around.
He parked near the bridge, stripped off his jacket, and waded into the river. The ice cut his hands as he fought to reach the dog, pushing the shivering creature toward the bank. The animal was hugea starving, golden Labradorfar too heavy for the thinning ice. It had no chance.
Blood trickled from the cuts on Jamess arms and legs. Freezing, he dressed quickly, then finally looked at the dog hed saved. Thin, trembling, it stared at him, refusing to leave. «Hey, lad, youre pedigree! What are you doing out here? Wheres your owner?» The dog shivered violently.
James opened the bikes sidecar. «Hop in, mate. Were going home.» The Lab clambered in and curled up. It was finally safe.
Dusk settled as James neared town. Traffic snarled aheadan accident involving a lorry and two cars, police and ambulances swarming. A chill ran through him. He glanced back. The dog slept soundly, dry now, softly snoring. «If not for him…» The thought flickered uneasily in his mind.
«Emily, love!» James swept his wife into his arms at the doorstep, kissing her fiercely. The dog sat quietly, watching, grinning. Home. A new life. It already adored this delicate woman in her flowery dressing gown, the scent of roast dinner and Yorkshire pudding. It had claimed James the moment he pulled it from the ice.
«Oh, whos this?» Emily finally noticed their guest, eyes wide. «Our angel,» James grinned. «Archie. Newest member of the family.» Emily crouched, offering her hand. «So Im Archie now?!» The dog sniffed, licked her fingers, thenovercomeslathered her whole face.
And so Archie became theirs. The rascal who chewed Emilys slippers. The menace who drooled all over the cat. Their treasure, their love, their guardian angel.
James and Emily lived in a sturdy, cosy townhouse inherited from his parents. They built Archie a spacious kennel, though in winter he often slept inside on his own mattress. Life rolled onJames worked away on rigs (their little town offered only meagre wages), while Emily stayed home. But not alone now. With Archie. And soon, moreher rounded belly hinted at news James didnt yet know. She was planning the perfect reveal.
One stifling summer evening, Emily took Archie for a stroll. The heat hung heavy. Shadows lengthened. Somewhere nearby, rowdy laughter and music grated on Archies nerves.
Two drunk lads staggered into their path. «Look at this pretty bird!» one slurred, reeking of beer. Emily froze. Fear knotted her stomach. Archie strained against his lead, growlingbut the muzzle shed put on (foolishly, she now realised) silenced him.
The second lad grabbed her wrist. She dropped the lead.
They had a knife.
Archie lunged. They slashed him. Again. Again. Blood soaked the pavement. Emily screamed, begged. They only fled when Archie collapsed, lifeless.
«…And I crowned you…» James was nearly home when Emily called, hystericalthe vets surgery. Archie was dying.
He burst in. Archieso small nowlay on the table, IVs in his veins. The vet murmured grimly. James choked back a sob. «Archie… lad… dont leave us.» He kissed the dogs fevered nose.
A flicker. Archies eyes openedjust a crackbut it was enough.
He fought. Survived. Came home. For five more years, he loved Emily and James, doted on their baby boy, little Oliver. When his time finally came, they buried him together. Oliver, solemn for a four-year-old, declared, «We need a new Archie. I dont want to live without one.»
Love works miracles. Its true. Love each other. Love the creatures who share this world with us. Because none of us know who we might be next timea drowning dog in an icy river, perhaps? Or maybe that tiny life you save will one day save you.
