No Man Left Behind: A Veteran Inspired Charity Anthology by Elizabeth Knox (black authors fiction TXT) 📕

asleep. He’s even snoring. I chuckle. My phone is on the bed with me, so I take a couple of pictures because Darren won’t believe this. “Are you here to make sure I get a good night’s sleep?” I close my eyes petting him and drift off to sleep. I should journal my nightmare, but this puppy has other plans.

I finally wake up to puppy kisses and a commotion going on downstairs about a missing dog. “I counted them before I went to bed.” I grab my crutches from the bottom of the bed and walk out to the railing to look down into the living room.

“Is the puppy all white with a black heart shape around his little nose?” Albert nods. “He’s up here with me.” He’s standing at my foot when Albert gets up here.

“Aren’t you a regular Houdini?” He laughs as he tries to pick him up, but he barks this cute little bark. “I think this dog picked you, Mia.”

“What do you mean?”

“Animals have a way of finding someone. I don’t know how but you become the pet and their master. Don’t be fooled thinking that you’re in charge.” I laugh. I’ve never had an animal do this before.

“Well, I guess Houdini is mine. What do you think about that?” I look down at him who sits like he’s pleased with himself.

“Why is he up here anyway?” Albert seems confused. I told him that I had a nightmare, was crying and he was there. Albert smiles. “I’ll see you down for breakfast then we can start the training. His name is Houdini?”

“It suits him. He got out of his cage somehow.” I shrug. Houdini and I head back into my room so I can shower and get dressed. Houdini watched me the whole time. I put my leg on and sigh. It’s still a little tender from yesterday. “I can do this.” I stare at myself in the mirror, but I feel the panic coming on then Houdini barks at me as I hide my face. “Not you too?” He barks again at me. “Fine you win. I can’t believe I’m taking advice from a barking dog.” My hair goes into a ponytail exposing my burns. I look down at the dog. “Are you satisfied now?” He barks while jumping around the room. “Everyone’s a critic.”

Walking down the stairs is tricky for me but Houdini doesn’t go down to the next one until I do. I got about halfway down when I lose my footing and I land on my ass. He starts barking like crazy and a couple of people I met last night come running. “Sorry I fell.”

“Don’t apologize. I know that you said that stairs are tricky for you. Let me help you.” I thank Tom. “Good boy, Houdini. He already has training it seems.”

“He must adapt to his surroundings. He’s watching everyone else,” Albert comments. “Today was going to be spent playing with the puppies to see which one fits you but since you already found him, we’ll start with bonding and some basic commands.”

“Sounds good to me. What kind of dog is he?” They tell me that he’s a boxer. I sit down at the table and Tom brings me over some food. “Thank you for helping me. I’m still not one hundred percent okay without the crutches.” Nobody is staring at my burns which I’m thankful for.

It’s been a rough week but I’m getting better with the stairs and Houdini lays with me every night. Tom thinks it’s good that we’ve bonded so well. The nightmares are still there but I don’t feel so afraid when I wake up from them because Houdini is right there with me. I called Darren the first day and told him about my night with the dog and asked him to give me the week to get used to everything. He said that he understood but I could tell that he was heartbroken. I send a text every day and night to make sure he knows that he’s always on my mind. The physical therapist that my doctor suggested, has been here and helping me to walk without the crutches. She’s also teaching me different activities to help with the dog too. It’s been a great time so far and I can’t wait to go home.

“I have a question for you,” Albert says to me as I’m standing at the sink doing dishes. One of my activities from the physical therapist is doing dishes. I mentioned to her that my boyfriend owned a bar and was looking for a cook a couple of hours a week and my parents want me to work for them in the bookstore. She has me standing to do dishes and cook dinner.

“What would that be?”

“Darren is scheduled to work today. I don’t have a replacement for him. Is it okay if he comes here?”

“Yes. I miss him.”

“Well, he misses you too.” I turn around to see Darren standing there. I walk over to him without my crutches and he wraps his arms around my waist kissing me. I’ve missed this man more than anything. There is a barking dog at my feet. We separate and laugh. “Is this Houdini?”

“Yeah. Isn’t he cute?”

“He definitely is. Hey, buddy. Thanks for taking good care of my girl. She talks all the time about you.” I can’t help but smile at the exchange between Darren and Houdini. “Physical therapy looks like it’s going well.” We walk over to the table. I still get sore standing but that’s going to probably always be there.

“It is. I can get up and down the stairs by myself without the crutches. I can’t run quite yet but they’re fitting me for the prosthetic. I remembered what happened to me up until the medic found me.” I’m a bundle of nerves now that Darren is here. “There was something else I had to tell you.” I look around the room trying to remember what it