— Semyon, hang on just a little longer, I’m almost free, — Vasily Andreevich said softly into the phone, trying to sound as gentle and loving as possible. — Don’t get bored without me, okay?
He gently placed the phone on the table and smiled. Outside, he looked like a stern man, with sharp features and a heavy gaze, but inside, his soul was anything but hard. He knew his nephew was doing just fine on his own. Semyon had already learned how to watch movies, read books, even prepare something simple — like pasta marinara or an omelet. Still, he would call sometimes, saying he missed him… And though Vasily understood it was a kind of game, a way for the boy to express his feelings, his heart warmed at those conversations. He played along, reassured him, begged him not to be sad.
Two years had passed since Semyon had come to live with him. Two long years filled with pain, loss, and a slow return to life.
He remembered the day he brought his nephew home. It felt like the world had completely shattered. He himself struggled to stand, as if he had died and been reborn several times, just to start living again. But there was no choice — none left. All that survived the tragedy was a six-year-old boy with empty eyes, lost in his thoughts.
The tragedy happened on that cursed night when Semyon’s parents — Vasily’s son Misha and his young wife — were returning from a visit. They had called a taxi, just wanting to get home. But just under their building’s entrance, another car crashed into them at reckless speed, driven by a drunk seventeen-year-old. The impact was devastating. Of the three, only Semyon survived. Small, fragile, like a broken toy. How he survived? A miracle, to put it simply. The emergency doctors, who had seen everything, shook their heads: “An angel’s wings must have shielded him.” The car was practically smashed to pieces, yet Semyon came out almost unharmed — only some scratches, probably from being pulled out.
Vasily’s wife had died long before — when his son was sixteen. Then he became Misha’s guardian, and later Semyon’s. Time passed, but the pain never eased. After losing his son and daughter-in-law, Vasily almost lost the will to live. Thoughts became a chaotic mess: “Why? Why us?!” But one day, looking into his nephew’s eyes — empty like the winter sky over an abandoned park — he understood: if he broke, Semyon would be completely alone. And that couldn’t happen. It must not.
Months passed. Only after six months did Semyon begin to act like a normal child. Quiet, thoughtful, but at least he was coming back to himself. Vasily returned to work. At first, the neighbor Nina Petrovna, a kind woman with a motherly heart, stayed with the boy to help and make sure he was never alone. Then, when the boy grew more independent, she visited occasionally — checking in, feeding him, seeing how things were going.
Nina Petrovna was a good woman but had a habit that often drove Vasily crazy: she kept trying to set him up with a wife. She brought over potential matches and dropped hints constantly. At first, he didn’t understand why he was suddenly surrounded by so many caring ladies.
— So, Vassya, has no one caught your eye? — she asked one day.
And then he got it. He laughed:
— What are you saying, Nina Petrovna? Are you the one wanting to marry me?
The old lady frowned:
— What’s so funny? You’re a young, strong man, yet you stay here like an old bachelor… It’s not like you! You could bring happiness to someone and not die alone!
Vasily promised he’d “keep an eye on the women,” just to get her off his back. But Nina Petrovna wasn’t the only one. Others began openly flirting with him. So much so that he quit the hospital and moved to pathology. Maybe he should’ve done that sooner, but after losing his wife and children, those advances irritated him more than anything else.
He was only fifty years old. He’d had a son at nineteen and a grandson at thirty-nine. Age was still on his side. He did sports, had skilled hands, and only drank on special occasions.
His workday was nearly over. He was calm — the evening shift was handled by another team now. Vasily went out for a smoke. Spring was just beginning, and the air smelled fresh and hopeful.
By the door sat a large dog. It looked so sad that Vasily’s heart clenched.
— What’s wrong, buddy? Did someone bring one of your people? Don’t be sad, brother… Go home, go…
The dog sighed like a man, moved a few steps, then sat down again.
An hour later, Vasily stepped out again — it was time to go home. The dog was still there, now whining softly as if asking to come inside. Strange behavior. Dogs can sense death in advance. Why was it so nervous?
— Kolya! Who did we bring in? Whose dog is that?
A young assistant training to be a doctor answered immediately:
— They found a woman on the street. No documents. She was probably walking the dog and…
— Where is she?
— Over there, still waiting to be transferred. Petrovich will see her soon and decide.
Petrovich, who was taking over the shift, always started with a cup of hot tea.
Vasily approached the woman. She looked about forty. Clean face, no obvious injuries, and… strangely, she didn’t seem dead.
He took her hand and jumped:
— What…! She’s alive!
Assistant Igor nearly fainted.
— Get her to the hospital immediately! And call Petrovich here!
Vasily dropped his bag, took off his jacket. Her pulse was weak, but it was there!
Petrovich rushed over and got to work:
— Well, beautiful spy! Don’t be afraid, we’re bringing you back to life! What kind of trick was that?
After a couple of minutes, the ambulance arrived again — the same paramedics who had brought her. Their faces showed they didn’t expect this turn of events.
— How is this possible?! Her blood pressure was zero!
They hooked her up to IVs and monitors. Vasily and Petrovich accompanied the medics to the ambulance. The dog jumped happily, barking.
When the ambulance left, Vasily crouched down before the dog:
— Good boy, you seem to have saved her life. Now we wait for her to get better. And what about you?
The dog looked him straight in the eyes, tilted its head. And Vasily, surprisingly, offered:
— Want to come with me? I have a nephew, Semyon, who loves dogs. When his owner gets better, we’ll bring you back.
The dog wagged its tail and barked, as if saying yes.
“Really?” Vasily thought. “Animals are smart, but maybe not that much!”
Turns out, they really were.
They lived only fifteen minutes away on foot. The dog walked beside him, almost as if on an invisible leash, without looking around.
— Semyon! I’m home! And I’m not alone!
His nephew ran out of the room, saw the dog, and his eyes lit up:
— Grandpa!
— Here’s our guest. I don’t know her name yet, but she’s a very smart dog.
— Where did you find her?
Semyon approached and hugged the dog’s neck. Vasily tensed — after all, it was a stranger’s dog. But the animal licked the boy’s face and wagged its tail.
— What a story, huh? Let’s have dinner and feed her. My gut says she’s hungry.
The dog ate a bit, drank water, and stared at Vasily.
— She wants something…
— Grandpa, she’s asking where she can sleep!
— Oh!
Vasily took a blanket, folded it four times, and placed it near the armchair. The dog lay down and rested its muzzle on its paws.
— Semyon, she looks sad…
— How could she not be? She almost lost her owner.
He told the dog everything that had happened. Semyon sat beside her on the floor:
— Don’t worry. She’ll get better!
The dog rested her head on his knees and sighed, just like a person.
The next morning Vasily went for a run — bringing the dog along.
— What should I call you? Friend?
The dog whined softly — understanding not to wake Semyon.
He stopped by the store — bought a leash, food, and bowls. At lunch, at Semyon’s request, he called a doctor friend to find out where the dog’s owner was.
— Vasily! I heard about what you did!
— What deed? The doctors were the ones who saved her.
— It’s a unique case! Her blood sugar was practically zero, plus a heart attack. Almost no vital signs…
— How is she now?
— I love these cases! She’s already running! Conscious, though still on IVs, but the danger is past. Know anything about the dog? She keeps repeating “Friend, Friend…” and is very restless.
— Tell them not to worry. The dog is with me; we’ll return her once she’s better.
— You’re amazing! If you come by, Semyon and the dog can play outside, and you can tell her everything. Then we’ll help her sit up in bed so she can look out the window and calm down.
— Grandpa, when will we visit this lady? I want to ask what Amico likes best!
— Tomorrow. I have the day off.
When Vasily entered the room, the woman turned her head. Her eyes were deep green, full of pain and light.
— Good morning…
— Hello. I’m Vasily, the one your dog came to.
Her eyes warmed:
— You… are a man with a capital M! I live only for Amico. He’s my son’s dog… but my son died a year ago.
— Really… I lost a son and daughter-in-law too. Amico has become friends with my nephew, Semyon. Now they run outside together.
The woman sighed:
— I didn’t want to live anymore. I was alone with an old dog. It was hard… Then I thought about the cemetery, took some pills, but I fell, lost consciousness, and woke up here without Amico… Sir, if anything happened to him! I don’t know how I’d face my son.
— Don’t think you’re crazy. It’s just easier to imagine that one day you’ll meet again…
In the following weekends, Vasily visited Marina. A week later, he brought her outside in a wheelchair.
What a scene! Amico jumped with joy, everyone laughed. But with his owner, he was cautious — resting his head on her lap, then jumping again.
— Grandpa, what if Marina stays home alone? She’s still weak…
Vasily looked awkwardly at his nephew.
— And what do you suggest?
— Maybe we could invite her to live with us until she recovers. I’ll watch Amico, and you’ll watch her…
“Thank you, Semyon,” Vasily thought.
— I don’t know if she’ll agree…
— You talk to her firmly! Then she will!
Marina smiled shyly:
— It’s not possible… We’re strangers, and you’d take on such a responsibility…
— Marina, don’t say nonsense! What responsibility? You don’t know how complicated we are!
— You? I’ve never met better people!
Both fell silent, smiling.
— Marina… I’m straightforward. I say things as they are. I want you to live with us. Forever.
— What do you mean?
— Exactly that. You understand, right? I’m forty-six…
— And I’m fifty.
When Nina Petrovna heard, she exclaimed immediately:
— See, Vassya? I told you! Look at her: she’s the one for you!
When Marina was fully recovered, the four of them went on a quiet vacation to the sea and silently celebrated their wedding.
