Dear Liv,

I miss the days we spent in the park. Without any worry we would play fetch until the sun sat on the edge of the horizon, and before the day was done we would rest underneath the old oak tree. I lived for those days, but now I live just to survive. The world changed so much from what it was then, the humans have almost all but died off. Mother nature took over, the plant life overgrew its once designated plot of land and now the vines reach even the tallest of buildings.

I traveled from our home in Illinois to a town here in Ohio and I dare not go further. There was a family here when I arrived, I enjoyed their company for however long it lasted. They moved on to the next empty promise of food and shelter, but most importantly no sickness. They were kind enough to leave the window open to this 3rd floor room I’ve called home. That morning I did as I always do, I exited through the open window and walked down the pile of rubble that laid beneath from the neighboring building.

I walked through the woods towards the river for my morning drink, the leaves crunched beneath my feet reminding me that winter will arrive soon. I reached the river and planted my feet on the edge of the river bed before extending my neck and taking a drink. As I lapped up a mouth full of water I heard a cracking branch that startled me, I followed the noise to see a figure in the distance. It was a girl, a human girl! I hadn't seen a human for many months. I watched her take off a large grey backpack and place it on the ground. The girl pulled out two empty bottles and began filling them.

She’s very small, couldn’t have been older than twelve. Her skin was wrapped tightly around her bones, I assumed that she hadn’t eaten a meal in some time. I approached her slowly, not wanting to startle her, but did anyway. She saw me come near and gasped, she jumped back from me and looked at me with fear in her eyes as if I was a threat, but anything could’ve been a threat to her. I tilted my head, Hello, girl. The girl cautiously bent down and picked up her two bottles. Still bending, she put the bottles back in her bag and zipped it closed. As she did, a chain around her neck slipped out of her shirt and revealed a heart shaped locket attached to it.

She put on her bag, still watching me, “Go on dog, back to where you came from.” The girl turned away from me and started walking away, I quickly followed. She stopped abruptly and turned to me, “Don’t follow me, I ain’t got nothin’ for you.” She takes another step and again I follow. “No, dumb dog!” She yells, “Leave me be.” She walked faster now down the river bed, she did not want me to but still I followed. I couldn’t understand why she wouldn’t want my company, she was alone like me.

We played that game for many days. I tried many times to lead her to my home so that she may sleep indoors, but she preferred sleeping in old cars that no longer run. I found her most days down by the river where we met, but this day I found her in the only grocery store in town. She grunted and mumbled to herself as she tore through every empty box in the store. Frustrated, she threw a torn box across the store with all her strength. Unfortunately for her, all her strength amounted to just about three inches. She leaned against a wall and let herself slide to the floor. I walked over to her and took a seat. The girl pulled out her locket and opened it, she stared at whatever was inside for some time.

“There’s no more food here, there’s no more food anywhere.” She said, still staring at the metal heart. “Maybe I should eat you, huh?” She turned to me and scratched my head, “I bet you taste great, dumb dog.” She closed her pendant, as she put it away she began to cough and sniffle. She wiped her nose and was surprised to see blood on her hand. “Damnit!” She exclaimed as she opened up her bag and pulled out a rag. She pressed it against her nose and held it there for a moment. “Maybe if I’m lucky I’ll die before I starve to death.” She chuckled and finished wiping off her now bloodied face.

I followed the girl outside of the store and to the parking lot. It was raining now, I could smell a storm drawing closer to us. She walked to an old Toyota that had only one window and threw her bag inside, quickly following it in. The rain was only going to get worse, and that car wouldn’t get her through the night. The wind shifted, sending rain into the car, soaking the girl. I needed to get her to my home.

Hey, I shouted. The girl looked to me, “What, you dumb dog?” I shouted again, Come girl, follow me! She opened the car door and shouted back, “Do you want in, ‘cause it ain’t much dryer in here!” Follow, I commanded one last time before taking down the road. “Hey, wait!” I heard her yell after me but I didn't stop. I paused at every turn to make sure the girl was still following me.

I reached the bottom of the pile of rubble leading to my home and hesitated before starting my climb. When I reached the open window I looked back to see the girl reaching the bottom of the pile. I entered my home and waited for her to follow. When she entered the room she took a moment to examine it, her first instinct was to check the door. She pulled it open only to be met by a wall of furniture and debris. She closed the door and went back to the window and closed it.

“There,” she said, “that should keep us dry.” She set her bag on the ground and opened it, pulling out a lantern. She turned the knob, illuminating the room, “Is this where you live?” She set the lantern on the floor, “It ain’t much but it'll do.” With the room now lit she reached back into the bag pulling out a rag. She used it to start drying off her face, I stepped forward and could smell the dried blood and sweat that was embedded in the fabric. I gave myself a good shake, drying off as well. The water flew off my back, hitting the girl in the face. “Gross.” She muttered before wiping her face again.

The girl shoved the rag back into her bag and reached down deep to the bottom. I heard the crinkle of a food wrapper and pranced with excitement. She pulled out a granola bar and stared at it for a moment, “This is it, dog, my last bit of food.” She opened it and peeled away the wrapper. She broke the bar in half and offered me a piece, “Here.” I gladly accepted her offer. I ate my half quickly while she nibbled at hers, making what she thought of as her last meal last.

She quickly made herself at home, making a bed out of old clothes and blankets that were scattered about the room. She sat down in her nest, resting against the wall, and began staring at her locket again. Tears filled her eyes and she soon began to cry. She let her tears stream down her face for some time, until finally she wiped them away with her hands. I watched as tears soon mixed with blood from her nose. She noticed the blood which only made the crying worse. She took off her necklace and set it on the floor beside her, using her shirt to clean her face.

I approached her and sat down, she spoke through scattered coughs, “I’m dying, do you know that?” She looked at me with longing eyes, desperately wanting me to respond. “I knew I shouldn’t have helped that woman, but she seemed so helpless.” She looked into my eyes again and sniffled, wiping her nose, “You’re right, it was stupid of me. Mama taught me better, only think about yourself.” She paused, looking at me and laughing, “And yet, here I am, making friends with a dog.”

The girl sighed, “Damn, stupid, dumb dog.” She pondered, “You know, that woman told me she was trying to get to a town in Kentucky. There’s some doctors there that say they have a cure, or they’re working on one at least. Maybe, maybe we could make it, do you think?” She looked at me again, her eyes weren’t desperate this time but hopeless. “Can you understand me, dog?” I tilted my head, Yes. She looked away from me and wiped her hands off on her pants, “No, no I suppose not.” She smiled at me and stroked my left side, “You’re good company though, and a good boy, a real good boy.”

The girl laid down in her nest and quickly fell asleep. Her nose bled more through the night. She reminded me of you, Liv, she’s stubborn and strong, and she’s kind. Her sadness also reminded me of you in our last few days. We had a good life together, I would have done anything to keep you from getting sick. I remembered the night you stayed awake holding a towel to your nose, you cried most of the night but by the time the sun rose you weren’t crying anymore. You had blood on your face, coming from both your nose and eyes. I waited as long as I could for you to wake, but soon other humans came to take what little food we had left, and then they came for me. I had to flee, and when I felt safe I tried to find home again, but I ran too far.

The moonlight broke through the clouds and shined into the room, bouncing off the open pendant still sitting on the floor. I took a step towards it, curious as to what could occupy so much of the girl’s time. I looked inside, but all I saw was a blurry reflection of myself bouncing off the metal. Why stare at a blank metal heart, I could never imagine the importance of it. I stepped softly onto the girl’s nest and laid down next to her. I rested my head on her arm and allowed myself to fall asleep.

The sun rose in what felt like minutes, shining through the window and waking me. I stood and walked to the window to leave for my morning drink, forgetting that it was closed the night before. I walked back over to the girl and nudged her arm gently, trying to wake her. Her arm laid over her face, blocking the sun from hitting her eyes. I nudged her arm again and stood back as it fell to her side.

Blood had pooled and soaked into the clothes laying under her head, blood from her nose...and eyes. Girl, I said, Girl! She did not stir. I anxiously paced about the room, Girl! I nudged her again and dug at her legs but she laid still. I walked to the window and yelled for help but I knew that there would be no one near to hear me. I walked to the girl and laid next to her, resting my head on her arm once again comfortably. I wasn’t able to wait for you, Liv, but this time I’ll stay and wait for her to wake, which I’m sure will be soon.