The Man and The Dog

Life wasn’t meant to be lived alone

In a run-down apartment in the city lived a young man. He wore shabby clothes, had an unkempt beard, and hadn’t had a good meal in days. His home was in tatters. The building could fall anytime. The living room had water leaking from the ceiling onto the floor. You could hear water dripping, echoing through the empty apartment.

He has loved making comics ever since he was a young boy, imagining that someday he, too, would create a magnificent story and become famous. Despite many attempts, success still eluded him. The man kept writing on his old laptop, which was painfully slow.

The only one who brought him joy outside his comics was his pet dog, Joy. He asked for nothing more than some food and playtime, but gave unconditional love. Joy was the only one that believed in him, his constant support.

The man had been working on his magnum opus for the past year. He bet his heart and soul on it. However, such bets always took a toll, which he paid by spending less and less time with his sole friend.

Joy always stayed by his Master. His loving gaze would keenly observe him, and spending a few moments together would make him jump with joy.

Some days he would feel like giving up, but Joy wouldn’t let him. He would jump around and lick his face as if saying, I believe in you, Master, even if the world does not.

The work finally went live as a web comic, and slowly and steadily, it became popular. The man created new characters and grander story arcs to keep the story progressing. He had finally lucked out. Now he only needed to keep it going. The work became an extension of himself.

With that came the rewards. The man moved to a nicer locality with an excellent apartment. He had delicious meals now instead of just gulping instant noodles. His looks transformed, wearing the latest fashion, with a clean shave and well-kept hair. He learned how to take a shower.

He wanted to share his wealth with his constant support by buying lots of treats and toys. Though he couldn’t give him time. Eventually, his work made him travel in and out of the city. He had to do tours, connect with his readers, and make new friends. He was finally Somebody.

Sometimes the Master came home late at night, and sometimes he didn’t. During these trips, Joy waited for his friend to come home and play with him like he used to. He longed for his return, peeking outside the window and waiting.

A few years passed, and the comic’s popularity declined, overtaken by newer work. The man was doing his best to continue his creation, but it didn’t have the impact of yesteryears. His readers had outgrown it.

One day, his work got canceled by the publication. It faded with time like tears in the rain, and he became an ordinary person again. The fans who flocked to each of his chapters were nowhere to be seen. He just became a has-been. It wasn’t easy to accept.

He began being aloof. His appearance and health started deteriorating, and writing a single word became challenging. Every time he set in front of his computer, it reminded him of his past. He remembered how he started making comics because they made him feel special; now, he didn’t know the point of making them anymore.

No one left to praise him, no one waiting for the next chapter to arrive. Everybody except his trusted friend had long forgotten him.

His furry friend, now older but wiser, understood the Master was in great pain. He helped in ways he could, always cheering his Master by jumping, licking, and forcing him to take him out on long walks.

When he was a child, he didn’t have many friends. He spent most of the time alone. It was during these long walks; he realized why he started writing.

One such day, he discovered the world of comics, and nothing remained the same. The sparkle in his eye when he read his favorite story, the emotions inside him he felt; he wanted to share that experience with others. That’s why he started writing, to be there for younger selves like him.

Though he also learned another valuable lesson: how life wasn’t meant to be fulfilled alone. Even in these challenging times, his friend was still by his side. He may never reach the fame of a favorite author, but this wasn’t bad. During the day, the man wrote and took his pet for walks in the evening. This life was enough.

Slowly, the man began working on his newer piece. This time, though, he spent more time with his only friend, giving him the strength and ideas to persist.

Finally, after many days, an email arrived, and they asked him to publish his recent work with a multi-year contract. The man looked at his furry friend with tears in his eyes. Joy appeared to be saying something; I was right to believe in you, Master.