Chapter 5 - Closed Door

I drifted into my own thoughts.

Our memories.

Two years... talking every single day.

Sometimes I smiled.

Sometimes I cried.

—

Slowly ,regret crept in.

I should have listened to him.

He told me so many times to report Sen to the police.

About his threats, his blackmail.

But I never listened.

It must have annoyed him so much.

I kept going back to him,

crying, whining, complaining.

as if there was anything he could do from so far away.

That life...

the one I was supposed to take care of,

the one I should have been grateful for.

I threw it away.

A heavy wave of regret pressed against my chest.

It hurt.

It was painful.

—

The waiting was unbearable.

The cold.

The hunger.

They kept eating away at me.

But, it was nothing compared to what I would get soon.

The warmth of his hug. His touch.

A faint smile formed on my face.

—

How many hours had I spent under this car?

I didn’t even know anymore.

—

Then,

Footsteps.

Close.

Someone approached the car.

The door opened. They got in.

The engine started.

Panic hit me all at once.

I forced my weak body to move, dragging myself out from under the car just before it rolled forward.

Too close.

—

My breathing turned uneven as I collapsed onto the cold ground again.

—

Not yet.

I can’t die here.

—

I noticed people walking along the street.

It felt like the time when everyone was heading home from work.

—

My heart started pounding.

Fast.

Too fast.

—

Snow began to fall.

But I didn’t care anymore.

My eyes stayed fixed on every face that passed by.

One by one.

Looking.

Searching.

I moved slightly, hiding myself behind another car.

I couldn’t risk being noticed again.

I couldn’t let anyone take me away.

Then, a scent.

Familiar.

My body froze.

It wasn’t my eyes.

It wasn’t my thoughts.

It was instinct.

He’s here.

Even before I saw him—

I knew.

He was getting closer.

Closer. So close.

And then,

I saw him.

Walking fast.

Just like before.

Both hands in his pockets.

For a moment, everything else disappeared.

I forgot the pain.

The hunger.

How weak this body was.

I ran out from my hiding place.

Using whatever strength I had left.

A broken sound escaped me,

a bark, a cry.

I didn’t even know anymore.

“Master...!”

He turned.

Just for a second.

Our eyes met.

Then,

He kept walking.

—

…

—

No.

—

He didn’t recognize me.

This can’t happen.

Not again.

—

I forced my body forward.

I have to follow him.

I can’t wait another night.

I can’t...

—

I kept moving after him.

Walking... or running, I didn’t even know anymore.

No sound.

No barking.

Not because I didn’t want to,

but because I needed to save what little strength I had left.

Just enough to follow him home.

I knew him.

He wasn’t someone who would take in a pet.

He already said it before.

So barking wouldn’t move him.

Step by step,

I followed.

Dragging my weak body through the cold.

—

Time blurred.

Five minutes...

Ten...

I couldn’t tell anymore.

Then,

He slowed down.

—

A house.

—

My heart pounded.

This was it.

—

He reached into his pocket.

Took out his keys.

No.

Wait.

—

I forced my body forward, gathering the last of my strength.

I ran.

“Master!”

A broken bark came out instead.

I reached him just as he stood at the door.

My body collapsed near his feet.

“Master... this is Rhea...please... let me in...”

But all that left me was a weak, desperate barking sound.

He looked down at me.

“Why are you following me?”

His voice.

The first time I heard it in real life.

Clear.

Cold.

And yet...

it was him.

My heart tightened.

Of all the ways to finally hear his voice, it had to be like this.

I cried.

Every word I wanted to say, came out as broken barking.

—

How could I tell him?

How could I make him understand?

—

I jumped weakly, trying to reach him.

Trying to show him that I needed him.

His hug.

His touch.

I moved closer to him.

Please...

—

But nothing moved him.

—

“No.”

His voice was calm.

Cold.

“I don’t have time for a pet.”

“Go find another owner.”

—

The door closed.

Just like that.

The sound echoed in my ears.

Loud.

Final.

My body froze in place..

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