Hana was a small, black dog with a gentle spirit. Her fur was a bit unkempt, and her appearance wasn’t as striking as some of the other dogs in the neighborhood. Today was her birthday, but she was alone. There were no greetings, no presents, no happy barks from other dogs.
Hana felt a pang of sadness in her heart. She wondered if it was because she wasn’t as beautiful as the other dogs. Perhaps people thought she was unlucky or undesirable. Tears welled up in her eyes as she thought about the happy birthdays she had seen on television. Dogs were surrounded by their families, their tails wagging with excitement as they received gifts and affection.
Hana wandered the streets, her tail tucked between her legs. She felt lost and alone. She longed for the companionship of a human, someone to love and care for her. As the sun began to set, Hana found a sheltered spot beneath a large tree. She curled up into a ball, her head resting on her paws.
Just as she was about to give up hope, she heard a faint sound. It was a child’s laughter. Hana pricked up her ears and looked around. A little girl, no older than five, was playing in the park nearby. She was throwing a frisbee for her dog, a happy-go-lucky golden retriever.
Hana watched them with a pang of envy. She longed to have a friend like that, someone to play with and share her days with. As the little girl and her dog disappeared from sight, Hana sighed. She knew her dream of a loving family was probably just that—a dream.
As the night grew colder, Hana closed her eyes. She fell asleep, dreaming of a world where she was loved and wanted. Even though her birthday was filled with sadness and loneliness, she held onto a glimmer of hope that someday, her dream would come true.
