Adele's Stories

The sunlight poured in lazily through the canopy above me. I hummed softly as it lit up the flowers before me, making it easier to form them into a chain. A gentle breeze ruffled my hair and carried my voice away into the forest. My hum turned into song as my chain turned into a crown. Daisy laid nearby watching intently. The large white dog was my constant companion. We stumbled upon each other one day in this exact spot and Daisy instantly decided that I was hers.

She was already adorned with my first flower crown, and she watched as I finished my own and we became matching queens. I giggled at the thought and stood up. Daisy followed my lead and we walked down to the river’s edge together. Birds chirped at us on our way and the gentle breeze strolled beside us as an old friend.

Daisy raced ahead excitedly as we neared and leapt into the water, splashing wildly and scaring away a family of deer. I laughed at her antics and took off my shoes to join her. The water still felt a little too cold for this far into summer, but it was still easy to get used to. Besides, who feels cold when they’re playing with their best friend?

Daisy and I raced up and down the river and splashed water at each other until Daisy suddenly stopped and stared into the forest with ears perked. I stopped and watched her. It was hard to discern if her body language was signaling danger, or a squirrel to chase. So I watched, trusting her instincts. If there was danger nearby she’d let me know.

And then it happened. She barked a warning and turned to nudge me with her nose. She was trying to usher me away. Once I was out of the way she turned back to face the trees and growled. She had placed herself in front me, legs braced and head lowered. I was unsure if I should run. I knew she was strong and could handle any danger presented to her. She has before. And I knew she would do anything to protect me. But I was loathe to leave her.

I began to hear loud heavy footsteps making their way towards us. My heart beat faster and my feet froze. I couldn’t run even if I wanted to. Daisy growled another warning and took a few steps back into the water. She turned her head to look at me and whined. I knew what she wanted. I recognized the look in her eyes. She wanted me to run. She needed to know I was safe before facing her foe. I hesitated a second more before I heard the footsteps getting closer and then, almost against my own will, I was running.

I ran and ran until the trees blurred around me and I stopped hearing the sounds of Daisy protecting me. The moon had come out by now and lit the canopy above me. I sat down to catch my breath and waited. I waited for Daisy to come find me. But she didn’t come. I waited till the sun came out and still she didn’t appear. I decided it was safe enough to make my way back to her. But when I finally arrived back at the river she was nowhere in sight. Neither was her unseen foe. There was not even signs of a scuffle. Not even a single footprint.

I bit back tears and began to run again. I called out Daisy’s name, but she was nowhere to be found. I searched for three days before finally coming to the understanding that Daisy was gone.

I never saw Daisy again. But her memory lived on. And I never forgot the day she saved my life, and all the days following when she saved me from other unseen foes.