They had grown frail together, the old man and his collie. His heart was very weak. She was failing fast; had barely eaten for days.
He stroked her head gently. ‘Don’t leave me, old girl. Wait for me, it shouldn’t be too long.’
A brisk wind got up. She scraped at the door to be let into the garden. Stopping under the chestnut tree, she looked back at him, and whined.
‘What is it, lass?’ He came to her, hand outstretched.
Crack!
The branch crushed them both.
She hadn’t left him.
She had taken him with her.
He stroked her head gently. ‘Don’t leave me, old girl. Wait for me, it shouldn’t be too long.’
A brisk wind got up. She scraped at the door to be let into the garden. Stopping under the chestnut tree, she looked back at him, and whined.
‘What is it, lass?’ He came to her, hand outstretched.
Crack!
The branch crushed them both.
She hadn’t left him.
She had taken him with her.
