In a small village, a boy named Arlo had a dog named Lumi. Lumi was small, with fur like golden sunlight and eyes that always seemed to understand. Every night, Arlo would hold Lumi close and tell him about his day—about dreams he wished he could reach and fears he didn’t know how to face.
One winter, Arlo fell ill. The sickness was cruel, and no medicine could stop it. Lumi never left his side. When Arlo’s breaths became shallow, Lumi nudged him gently, licking his face as if to say, “I’m here.”
On the last night, Arlo whispered, “Don’t be sad, Lumi. I’ll always be with you… like a light.” The little dog curled beside him, keeping him warm. When the morning came, Arlo was gone, and Lumi sat quietly, staring at the empty bed, refusing to eat.
Days later, the villagers found Lumi at the village gate, holding a small lantern Arlo had once carried, waiting… as if he was still coming home. Even as the snow fell and the nights grew long, Lumi never left the lantern.
And sometimes, late at night, if you listened closely, you could hear the faint sound of a boy laughing—and a dog’s soft bark—echoing through the empty streets.
