I TOOK THE TRAIN TO CLEAR MY HEAD—AND SAT ACROSS FROM A DOG WHO KNEW TOO MUCH I wasn’t supposed to be on that train. I’d booked the trip last minute, after a night of crying in my car outside my ex’s apartment. I’d promised myself I wouldn’t go back to him again—

I wasn’t meant to be on that train, but after a tearful night outside my ex’s apartment, I reached a breaking point. On impulse, I bought a ticket out of town with no real destination, just needing to breathe. That’s when I noticed a calm golden retriever who locked eyes with me and seemed to understand everything. When he rested his head on my leg, his owner said, “He doesn’t usually do that,” but Buddy stayed like he knew I was falling apart.