MARIA GABRIELA
I stayed at Amacel until around eleven that night, finishing every bit of work Diego had dumped on me. I knew that standing up to him would destroy any future opportunity—here or anywhere else—but that didn’t mean my anger and contempt for him had faded.
If anything, they’d only gotten worse.
Exhausted, drained, my heart heavy, I finally left the building and stepped into the cool night air. The breeze brushed against my face, and for the first time all day, I felt like I could breathe.
I needed something. Something that could make me forget—if only for a moment—the chaos my life had become. And almost on impulse, I decided to do something different that night.
Instead of heading straight home, I turned toward an animal shelter near my apartment.
I’d always dreamed of adopting a dog, but between the long hours, the bills, and my emotional mess, I’d kept putting it off. Tonight, though… I needed this.
Something new. Something that could bring a little joy back into my life.
When I arrived, one of the staff members greeted me. He looked surprised to see someone show up that late, but his smile was kind. He led me to the dog area, and the moment my eyes landed on a medium-to-large German shepherd with deep brown eyes and black-and-gold fur, I knew. He was the one.
“This is Max,” the worker said, opening the kennel. “He was rescued from an abusive home, but he’s incredibly gentle and well-behaved.”
I knelt in front of Max, meeting his gaze.
He stood there, calm and quiet, almost as if he knew he’d finally found a home. I ran my hand over his soft fur, feeling the tension inside me start to melt away.
“Hi, Max…” I whispered, already feeling an instant connection.
He stepped closer and licked my fingers, a simple, tender gesture that sealed it for me. Within minutes, I’d signed the papers and was on my way home with him, feeling lighter than I had in weeks.
When we got to my apartment, Max walked in, sniffing everything, exploring his new space. I couldn’t help but laugh—softly, but genuinely—for the first time in what felt like forever.
Watching that innocent, lively creature filled me with an unexpected peace. I went to the kitchen, filled a bowl with water and another with dog food I’d picked up on the way home. Max trotted over and started eating, his tail wagging slowly.
“I think you’re going to like it here,” I said, petting his back. “The place is small, and you’re pretty big—but we’ll make it work.”
When he finished, he wandered into the living room and curled up on the rug.
He looked completely at ease.
And me… I felt lighter than I thought I could. I lay down beside him on the floor, gently stroking his fur as I watched his breathing steady into a calm rhythm.
The silence was comforting—different from the suffocating quiet that used to fill my apartment when I was alone. I stayed there for a while, lost in thought, trying to process everything that had happened.
The baby. The job. Diego. It all felt out of my control, but with Max by my side, for the first time in a long while, I felt like I had something—or someone—to hold on to.
Eventually, exhaustion caught up with me. I stood, gave Max one last look, and headed to my bedroom. Before lying down, I paused by the window, staring out at the city lights glittering in the distance, and thought about how much more my life was about to change.
“I think the baby’s going to love you, Max…” I murmured as I lay in bed.
As surreal as it all felt, knowing I’d have his company—his quiet, loyal presence—brought me a sense of peace. I drifted off to sleep with a faint smile on my lips, feeling, for the first time in a while, something close to hope.
Maybe things wouldn’t be so bad after all.