Spotted the Dog Lying by the Bench, I Hastened Over—Its Gaze Locked onto the Leash Natalie Carelessly Left BehindWhen I picked up the leash and called its name, the dog bounded to me, wagging its tail as if it had been waiting for a new friend all along.

Ethan saw the dog lying on the bench and sprinted toward it. The leash that Ethel had tossed carelessly was sprawled beside them, and Rover stared at his owner with swollen, pleading eyes.

Emily still could not fathom how a trifle had spiraled into such a violent feud.

Emily and James Rumbold were born a year apart. From childhood they had been inseparable, always looking out for one another. Whatever mischief they got into, they shared the blame equally, never leaving the other to fend for himself.

Their hometown, Ashford, grew richer and greener with each passing year. Luck smiled on them in the form of the villages headPeter Morgan, a native son and a brilliant agriculturalist.

After earning his degree in agronomy, Peter returned to Ashford, threw himself into community work, and was soon recognised for his efforts. Ten years later he rose to become the leader of Ashfords council.

His private life also flourished. Emily, fresh from nursing college, took a post as a sister at the village clinic. Peter could not ignore such a striking young woman. She returned his interest, they married, and the whole village celebrated. James was genuinely happy for his sister, though his own marriage to Ethel was far from pictureperfect.

While Emily floated through life, Ethel muttered at her, branding her useless or pretentious. After the wedding, envy replaced the idle chatter. Ethel began demanding more from her husband a newer house, a larger car, a finer coat

James often muttered, Everyone else has everything, and we have nothing! He tried his hardest, but no amount of money or effort could satisfy Ethels endless wants.

Part of the problem was that Ethel never received the gift of motherhood. Meanwhile Emilys life seemed a fairytale: a son, then a daughter, a sprawling home, and a husband who earned a respectable rank.

Family gatherings grew louder with arguments. Each time James visited Emily, Ethel would immediately launch into a tirade against him.

The final scandal erupted on Jamess birthday. Emily presented him with a Labrador puppy she had longed for, and Peter gifted him a brandnew motorbike.

Everything proceeded smoothly until drunken Ethel, in a fury, unleashed her pentup venom on Emily:

Whats this, love? The dogsome sort of joke? If we cant have a child, lets at least get a dog, eh?

Emily tried to soothe her:

Nat, calm down. Youll be embarrassed later

Her words fell flat. A massive argument erupted, the guests split into two camps. Peter whispered to his wife that they should leave, and after a quiet goodbye they slipped out of the celebration.

Two years passed. One evening James began to keep his distance from his sister; their contact was reduced to brief, rare meetings. Tension also grew between him and Ethel.

At night James increasingly walked to the river with Rover. The pair seemed content: James tossed a stick, Rover chased it, then lay at his feet, listening to his quiet stories.

Emily learned of this from the neighbours but did nothingJames remained stubborn.

After that illfated quarrel, Ethels hatred for Emily turned even more vicious, and she despised the dog Rover she had received. When James was away, she chased Rover out of the house, barked at him, and sometimes even struck him.

Nosy neighbours fanned the flames:

Hear that, Nat, your husbands out by the river again with the dog

Yesterday he ran into Emily, the kids, they laughed and shouted!

Jealousy consumed Ethel. Once James asked:

Nat, arent you hurting Rover?

Do I need your dog?! she snapped, storming out.

Rover hid more often from Ethel, trembling whenever she appeared.

All came to a head on a bleak morning when James, furious, shouted:

Ive had enough of this endless jealousy!

Left alone and seething, Ethel dragged Rover to the garden, tied him to the bench, and struck him with the leash. The poor dog howled in pain. After venting, Ethel dropped the leash, packed her things and walked out for good.

That night James returned home to find the dog missing from the gate. The house was in disarray. He found Rover by the bench, his hand clenched around the leash. He quickly released him, cradled the shaking animal, and raced to the clinic.

Emily was just about to leave when she saw her brother clutching the bleeding dog:

Emily, help James begged hoarsely.

They carried Rover into the treatment room. Emily examined him closely:

Who did this?

Ethel James lowered his gaze.

Emily nodded silently, sewed the wounds, cleaned his eyes and gave him water.

Later, in the corridor, James whispered repentantly:

Forgive me, Em

Oh, stop it she smiled tiredly. And about Ethel?

No, Emily. Not any more.

Emily called Peter:

Pete, please come.

At the sound of his wifes exhausted voice, Peter was already on his way.

Half an hour later he stood in the hallway. Seeing the siblings huddled together, Rover whimpering softly, he said:

Come on, you two heroes.

They took James home and gave him advice on caring for the dog.

When Emily told their mother what had happened, the woman sighed:

They shouldve split ages ago.

She turned and went to her son to help tidy the house.

In the gym James sat, petting Rover. Their mother arrived, stroked both of them:

Youre both alive?

Alive, James answered.

A fragrant scent drifted from the kitchen: roast beef and fresh vegetables. Rover nudged his nose, wagged his tail. James smiled, stood up.

Life went on.