Yet Vanessa never feared him.
To her, Duke was not a frightening animal. He was her best friend.
After her father died and her relationship with her fiancé collapsed, Duke had been the one constant in her life. He sat beside her through sleepless nights, followed her from room to room, and seemed to recognize her sadness before she said a word.
When her friends asked why she spent so much time alone with such a large dog, she always gave the same answer.
“Because he has never made me feel alone.”
Vanessa lived in a small two-bedroom house on a quiet residential street. She worked as a graphic designer from home, which meant Duke rarely spent more than a few hours without her.
Their routine was simple.
Morning walks. Breakfast together. Work during the afternoon. An evening walk around the neighborhood.
Then, every night, Duke slept on a large bed beside her bedroom door.
