The dog refused to leave the morgues threshold, as if sensing someone behind those doors was trying to bring its owner back to life. And that “someone” was no ordinary doctor.
“Simyon, hold on a little longer, Im almost done,” Vasily Andreyevich said into the phone, his voice as gentle and warm as he could make it. “Youre not too bored without me, are you?”
He carefully set the receiver down and smiled. Though his sharp features and stern gaze made him seem harsh at first glance, inside he was anything but. He knew his grandson was perfectly capable on his own. Simyon had already learned to watch movies, read books, even cook simple mealsnavy-style pasta or an omelet. Still, the boy sometimes called, saying he missed him… And though Vasily understood it was a game, a childs way of expressing affection, his heart still softened at those words. He played his part: soothing, comforting, urging the boy not to be sad.
Two years had passed since Simyon came to live with him. Two long years filled with grief, loss, and the slow rebuilding of life.
He remembered the day he brought the boy home. The world had felt shattered then, and he could barely stand, as if hed died and risen again just to keep going. But there was no choicehe had none. All that remained after the tragedy was a six-year-old with empty eyes, lost in his own thoughts.
The disaster struck on that cursed night when Simyons parentsVasilys son Misha and his young wifewere returning from a party. Theyd taken a cab, just wanting to get home. But right at the entrance, another carspeeding, driven by a drunk teenagerrammed into theirs.
The impact was horrific. Of the three, only Simyon survivedsmall, fragile, like a broken toy. How? A miracle. The paramedics, whod seen it all, just shook their heads: “A guardian angel shielded him.” The car was torn apart, yet the boy walked away with little more than scratches possibly from being pulled from the wreck.
Vasilys wife had passed long ago when Misha was sixteen. Then hed become a father to Misha, and later, to Simyon. Time moved forward, but the pain never faded. After his son and daughter-in-laws deaths, Vasily nearly lost the will to live.
“Why us? Why did this happen?” hed rage. But one day, he looked into his grandsons eyesempty as winter sky over a deserted parkand knew: if he gave up now, Simyon would be alone. That couldnt be allowed.
Months passed. Only after six did Simyon start acting like a child againquiet, thoughtful, but slowly returning to himself. Vasily went back to work. At first, their kind neighbor Nina Petrovna watched over the boy. She helped, supported, made sure he was never alone. Later, when Simyon grew more independent, shed drop by occasionallyto feed him, check in.
Nina was wonderful, but one habit of hers grated on Vasily: her relentless matchmaking. Shed bring over “candidates,” drop hints. At first, he couldnt figure out why so many women suddenly appeared around him.
“So, Vasya, none of them caught your eye?” she once asked.
Then he got the joke. He laughed. “You trying to marry me off, Nina Petrovna?”
She frowned. “Whats funny about that? Youre young, healthy, still single Its not right! You could make someone happyand not die alone!”
To appease her, he promised to “consider the ladies.” But Nina wasnt the only one paying attention. Other women flirted too, irritating him so much he quit the hospitalmoving to the morgue. Maybe he shouldve done it sooner. After the loss, their advances felt grating.
He was only fifty. Hed fathered Misha at eighteen, Simyon at thirty-nine. He was still in shapesporty, skilled, drinking only on rare occasions.
His shift was ending. Quietthe afternoon team had taken over. Vasily stepped out for a smoke. Spring was awakening, the air fresh with hope.
At the door sat a huge dog, gazing so mournfully it tugged at his heart.
“Whats the matter, someone of yours inside? Dont worry, old boy Go home, itll be okay.”
The dog sighed like a human, took two steps, sat again.
An hour later, Vasily left for home. The dog was still there, whimpering softly, as if begging to be let in. Strange. Dogs sensed deathwhy was this one so restless?
“Collar! Who was brought in? Whose dog is this?”
A young medic, aspiring to be a doctor, answered: “A woman found on the street. No ID. Probably walking the dog when”
“Where is she?”
“Inside, not taken yet. Pertovich will decide.”
PertovichVasilys replacementalways started his day with tea.
“Lets check,” Vasily suggested. “She looks about forty, no visible injuries, yet she doesnt seem dead.”
He took her handand froze. “What?! Shes alive!”
The medic nearly fainted. “Gurney! Now! Call Pertovich!”
Vasily tossed his bag, shrugged off his coat. Her pulse was faintbut there.
Pertovich rushed in. “Well, look at this! Hang on, well wake you up! What were you thinking, hm?”
Minutes later, the ambulance arrivedsame crew as before. Their faces mirrored shock.
“Hows this possible?! Her pressure was zero!”
IVs hooked up, monitors set, Vasily and Pertovich walked them out. The dog bounded happily around them.
As the ambulance left, Vasily sat beside the dog. “Good jobyou mightve saved her. Now she just has to recover. But what about you?”
The dog tilted its head. Then Vasily surprised himself: “Come home with me? My grandson Simyon loves dogs. And when your owners betteryoull go back.”
The dog wagged its tailagreement.
*Clever,* Vasily thought. *But this clever?*
Home was fifteen minutes away. The dog walked at his side, focused.
“Simyon! Im backand not alone!”
The boy ran out, eyes lighting up. “Grandpa!”
“Meet our guest. Dont know his name yet, but hes smart.”
“Whered you find him?”
Simyon hugged the dogs neck. Vasily tensedstill a strange animal. But the dog licked the boys face, tail wagging.
“Long story. Lets eatthen feed him. Bet hes hungry.”
The dog ate, drank, then looked at Vasily expectantly.
“He wants something”
“Grandpa, maybe hes asking where to sleep!”
Vasily spread a folded blanket near the armchair. The dog lay down, muzzle resting on paws.
“Hes sad,” the boy whispered.
“Cant blame himhe almost lost his owner.”
He told Simyon everything. The boy knelt beside the dog. “Dont worry. Shell get better!”
The dog rested its head on the boys lap and sighedjust like a person.
At dawn, Vasily joggedtaking the dog. “What should we call you? How about just Friend?”
The dog gave a soft barkaware not to wake Simyon.
On the way back, Vasily bought a leash, food, bowls. At noon, he called the hospital. Soon, he knew where the woman was. A doctor friend answered.
“Vasily! Heard about your feat!”
“What feat? The medics did the work.”
“Listenthis is rare! Sugar dropped to zero, plus a heart attack. No vitals”
“And now?”
“You know meI love these cases! Shell pull through! Conscious, on IVs, but out of danger. By the waythe dog? She keeps saying, Friend, Friend Worried sick.”
“Tell her not to. Friends with meshe can have him back when shes well.”
“Youre a saint! Visit sometime. Simyon and the dog can walk, you can fill her in. Well lift her carefullylet her see through the window, ease her mind.”
“Grandpa, when do we visit? We should ask what Friend likes best!”
“TomorrowIm off.”
When Vasily entered the ward, the woman turned her head. Her eyesbright greenheld pain and hope.
“Hello”
“Hello. Im Vasilyyour dogs with me.”
Her face brightened. “You? A true hero! I live only for Friend. He was my sons He died a year ago.”
“I understand. Lost my son and his wife. But Friends taken to Simyonthey play together now.”
She sighed. “Life I didnt want to goShe smiled through her tears, whispering, “Maybe life isnt done with us yet.”
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