Vanessa never called Duke her hero because she believed he understood every detail of what had happened.
She called him her hero because, when she could no longer help herself, he never stopped trying to reach her.
And every evening, when the sun disappeared behind the houses and Duke settled beside her chair, she would run her fingers through his fur and whisper the same words.
“You stayed with me, buddy. You stayed with me.”
He would lift his head, look into her eyes, and gently rest his chin on her knee.
For Vanessa, that was enough.
THE END
This is a fictional story created for entertainment. It is not a report of a verified real-life incident. Carbon monoxide is odorless and can be deadly; working carbon monoxide alarms and properly maintained, ventilated fuel-burning appliances are essential.
