“Me or the Dog\u2014Well, Guess Who\u2019s Still Here?”<\/b><\/p>\n
I knew Greg and I were struggling. After learning we couldn’t have kids, the silence in our house felt heavier every day. I suggested getting a dog\u2014**\u201cSomething to love,\u201d** I told him.<\/p>\n
He agreed, but only if it wasn\u2019t *\u201csome yappy little thing.\u201d*<\/p>\n
At the shelter, I saw her\u2014**Maggie.**<\/p>\n
A frail, gray-muzzled senior dog curled in the back of her cage. Her tag read:
\n**12 years old. Hospice adoption only.**<\/p>\n
She looked so tired, so **defeated.**<\/p>\n
But when I knelt down, her tail gave the weakest little wag. **That was it.**<\/p>\n
Greg lost it when I told him.
\n*”That dog’s halfway to the grave, Clara! If you bring her home, I’m leaving.”*<\/p>\n
I brought her home.<\/p>\n
Greg was gone before I even walked through the door.<\/p>\n
Maggie hobbled inside, looked up at me, and wagged her tail a little **stronger.**
\n**\u201cIt\u2019s okay,\u201d** I whispered, stroking her bony back. **\u201cWe\u2019ll figure it out.\u201d**<\/p>\n
**Six months later.**<\/p>\n
I was leaving a bookstore, coffee in hand, when I bumped straight into Greg.<\/p>\n
He smirked, arms crossed. **\u201cWell, well, Clara. Still all alone? Let me guess\u2014your precious dog didn\u2019t last long. Was it worth throwing your life away?\u201d**<\/p>\n
Before I could reply, his smirk suddenly dropped.<\/p>\n
His face twisted in shock\u2014**then pure rage.**<\/p>\n
His eyes locked onto **something behind me.**<\/p>\n
**\u201cI CAN\u2019T BELIEVE THIS!\u201d he screamed.**<\/p>\n
I turned\u2014and there she was.<\/p>\n
Maggie.<\/p>\n
**Not frail. Not weak.**<\/p>\n
Her coat was thick and healthy. Her tail wagged with **confidence.** She looked **alive.**<\/p>\n
**Thriving.**<\/p>\n
Greg\u2019s face went beet red. *\u201cYou LIED! That dog was supposed to DIE! She\u2014she should have been dead MONTHS AGO!\u201d*<\/p>\n
I just smiled, giving Maggie a pat. **\u201cGuess she didn\u2019t get the memo.\u201d**<\/p>\n
Greg sputtered, fists clenching. **”You chose HER over ME!”**<\/p>\n
I shrugged. **”Best decision I ever made.”**<\/p>\n
Then Maggie and I **walked away.**<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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