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The winter sun was setting in the horizon, dusting the miserable graveyard below with orange and pink hues. The last light of sun shone down on a fourteen-year-old girl. Her short, chestnut coloured hair glowed golden in the light of the setting sun. Her face shone from the light reflecting on her tears as
they fell from her face without shame.
“Max! Come here boy!” a voice, so soft, so caring, echoed through the dense area. The sound of crashing waves grew louder as the area around the girl changed to that of a beach. The smell of salt wafting through the air. A small, ten-year-old looking beagle came running towards the girl.
“ARF, ARF!” The beagle’s legs appeared soaked, having just come out of running through the waves which are crashing onto the beach.
“Fetch boy!” a command like yell sounded. A ball rolled along the grassy meadow with quite a lot of speed. The beagle chased after it, grabbing the ball as its saliva dripped onto the grass from the ball. The wind was nice and cool, the sun was bright and warm. The grass was soft and freshly cut. The birds were singing and chirping as they flew overhead.
“Max! Stop!” the girl giggled. “I’m busy!”
“Arf!” The little beagle was wanting attention from the girl.
“Is that your dog?” came a mysterious voice from the girls’
headset. She was busy playing games with her friend from school on her PlayStation.
“Yeah, he’s a bit chaotic at the moment” she chuckled back.
“You can go play with him. I don’t mind. I need to do some homework anyways” the person on the other end stated.
“I can play with him later! There’s plenty of time!” she responded happily.
“Okay then, we can play for another hour then, or else my mum will kill me" giggled the voice.
The world starts to spin around the girl as the giggling fades and panting started growing louder.
“Look at the view, Max!” the cold, salty air felt nice after the long hike to the top of the mountain. The girl breathed in the salty, fresh air, relishing in the wonderful feeling as the air filled her lungs.
The mountains and the view started fading into the girls’ bedroom.
“Go play with the dog!” the girls mother yelled at her.
“But I’m tired... I can play with him tomorrow!” she responded.
“Fine then. But at least do your homework, June” her mother responded. A noise of clear annoyance sounded back to her mother.
“MAX!” A cry rang through the streets. It was too late. The girl stood there, motionless on the side of the street, staring at the horrific scene in front of her. The beagle that’s been with her for twelve years of her life, with her through all the good and bad times, was lying there, motionless and bloody on the concrete of the road. It happened so quickly. The girl wasn’t registering anything. Not the burning hot midday sun, despite it being winter. Not the winter breeze blowing softy. Not the cars in the street stopping. Not the people screaming in shock. Not the crying children. Nothing.
The memories were whizzing through her head like a bad dream as she stood there, looking at her best friends’ grave.
“Goodbye, old friend.” The voice was so soft yet so dry. Her tears have long stopped. The sun was long gone. The wind was cold against her face. Everything was quiet. “I guess there wasn’t plenty of time, huh? I'll miss you...” With that, the girl took a deep breath, the night air, so cold, so painful, and started her walk home. She will never forget her best friend,
Max.
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