Paz was a small, scruffy puppy with big, soulful eyes. Today was his birthday, but he didn’t feel the slightest bit festive. Instead, he felt a heavy weight in his tiny chest, a loneliness that seemed to seep into his bones.
He had spent the day wandering the streets, his tail tucked between his legs. He watched as people laughed and played with their dogs, their faces filled with joy. He longed to be part of that. He longed for someone to wish him a happy birthday, to give him a scratch behind the ears, or even just a kind word.
As the day wore on, Paz’s heart grew heavier. He curled up in a deserted alleyway and tried to sleep, but his mind raced with thoughts of all the birthdays he had missed. He remembered the happy barks and wagging tails of other dogs on their special days. He wondered why he was always left out.
Just as Paz was about to give up hope, he heard a faint sound. It was a small girl’s voice, calling out for her lost kitten. Paz pricked up his ears and followed the sound.
When he found the girl, she was sitting on a park bench, sobbing. She had lost her beloved kitten, Whiskers, and she was heartbroken. Paz approached her slowly, his tail wagging tentatively.
The girl looked up, her eyes wide with surprise. She reached out and gently stroked Paz’s head. “Hello there,” she said softly. “Are you lost too?”
Paz didn’t bark or whine. He just looked at her with his big, sad eyes. The girl felt a pang of sympathy for the lonely puppy. She pulled out a piece of bread from her pocket and offered it to him.
Paz hesitated, but then he took the bread from her hand and ate it gratefully. As he munched, the girl couldn’t help but smile. She reached out and scratched him behind the ears. “Happy birthday, little guy,” she said. “I hope you have a wonderful day.”
Paz’s heart swelled with warmth. For the first time in a long time, he felt truly happy. He had found a friend, even if it was just for a moment. And as he watched the girl walk away, he knew that his lonely birthday wasn’t so lonely after all.
