My small sister and I were horrified and understood why when a strange dog pawed my sister and started barking in the elevator.
Almost five years had passed since that day. I’m at college now, but I still can’t stop thinking about that event. Finally, I plucked up the confidence to tell you what had happened at that moment.
It was merely another day. My younger sister and I were walking home from school as usual. We live on the top level of a high-rise, so of course we used the elevator. At the moment, everything was going according to plan; we were conversing, making jokes, and sharing our day’s experiences.
After a little while, a man in his 30s carried a large, light-colored dog inside the elevator. Being dog lovers, my sister and I were overjoyed to see the labrador. She wanted to grin and reach out to him, but all of that changed in an instant.
The dog stopped and stared at my sister. Then, as if sensing something, it stepped forward, stood on its hind legs, and laid its big, fluffy paws right on my sister’s breast. She gave a sharp cry of fear, and I remained still. We both feared the dog might bite.
The labrador began to bark loudly, harshly, and nervously. The man knelt by the dog, pulled the leash, patted it, and reassured him that everything was well.
“Don’t worry, kids—the dog doesn’t bite.”
However, I screamed and cried out:
“Sir, if the dog isn’t dangerous, why did it attack my sister in that way? See how unsteady she is! I’ll let our parents know!
Then the man looked at us quite differently. He became serious. and politely explained his dog’s odd conduct. Our family then went through a really difficult time.
“I… I have to explain myself. It’s not just a dog, either. It is trained to recognize cancer.
We didn’t get it at first.
If it finds that a human has a tumor, it sends out a signal. It hops and barks. It does just that. Together, we undergo examinations at the clinic where I work. I think you should tell your parents. And, of course, consult a physician. Just for protection.
I remember the others vaguely. For their own peace of mind, our parents took my sister to the hospital even though they didn’t first believe it.
The diagnosis was also confirmed. She suffered from cancer.
The hardest period of our lives then arrived. diagnosis, examination, and treatment. Hospitals became our second home. When she did, we all fought with her. We had a lot of experiences.
Unfortunately, however, it doesn’t work out. Sometimes even the best-laid plans can fall apart too soon.
I still live and study now. But if I see a puppy, an elevator, or even simply the smell of a hospital, my heart tightens.
But we may be sure that what happened at that time bought us some time. It’s time to show her how much we care. We should get together now.
And without that dog, we might not have known.
