The longest and loudest sigh of relief exhaled from her lips, on the border of being a groan. Nothing satisfied her more than hearing her name spoken by a familiar voice. Never for a moment did she doubt it was him; a feeling inside assured her of it. She wanted to hear his voice over and over and never allow her gaze to leave his pallid form, like as if she feared he would disappear into thin air. Perhaps this was all a dream, maybe she was having another hallucination. Maybe it was too good to be true. No, of course someone would come back, she told herself sternly, and to be on the safe side, she gently bit her shoulder. Yup, definitely real. There was no other reality she wanted.
"Miksa!" she called out more clearer, confidence rising in her voice. "It's me!" In fear of him leaving her sight, unable to imagine how mad she could go if she was left alone once more, she pelted towards him, like as if he would fade if she didn't reach him fast enough. There was no way he was leaving her, not now. Never did she want him to leave. When she had cleared the distance between them, she hoped to greet him in a friendly and long embrace. Emotions overwhelmed her, even making tears prick in her eyes which were unsuccessfully held back. She just wanted to be held, like she had been with her parents. They were the two canines she desperately wanted to see, though her friend brought just as much relief. How long had it been since she had seen him? A season? Two? Wow, had it been that long?
