Moobi and Dave
A somber reminder of hope’s fragility
In a bustling city, amidst the concrete maze and debris, lived a scruffy puppy — Moobi. Without a home or family, Moobi spends his days cautiously roaming the nearby streets and returning to his hideout at night. Each night, as the city lights flickered to life unwillingly, Moobi watched from his hideout as a human fed the hungry cats and dogs roaming the streets.
Dave — alone and in his early forties, a storekeeper by day walked the streets feeding and caring for dogs, cats, and any other animal he could find at night, every night. He carried a big red shopper’s bag full of snacks.
From the moment he saw Dave, Moobi sensed something special about him. Dave’s gentle presence and kind eyes radiated a calmness. One night, Dave noticed Moobi watching from a distance and approached slowly, offering a piece of bread. Hungry but cautious, Moobi edged closer and took the bread from Dave’s hand. Moobi wagged his tail, sniffing around Dave’s legs, and placed his soft paws on him.
For Dave, Moobi was a reminder of his childhood best friend “Mittu”, a white fluffy goofball who had gone missing almost a decade ago. To him, Moobi was Mittu’s second chance at life — a chance to love and be loved all over again.
It was the beginning of something new, something profound that would change their lives.
Dave became Moobi’s world. They walked together every night, feeding other strays and finding comfort in each other’s company.
Dave even began writing a story about Moobi, capturing their adventures and bond.
Beginning of the Decline
Weeks passed, and Dave’s energy and enthusiasm faded. He was mostly lost in himself, lost in thoughts. Moobi sensed something was wrong as Dave spoke less and struggled with eating and sleeping properly. He grew thinner, and his once bright eyes were clouded with worry, drooping in the heft of his unending thoughts. Moobi never left his side, offering comfort.
One night, Dave walked Moobi to a quiet bridge overlooking a serene river. The moon cast a gentle glow on the water. Dave’s silence was heavy, his steps slow and deliberate. As they stood on the bridge, Moobi watched him with worried eyes and let out a soft but audible whine. When Dave turned around, he saw Moobi sitting at the edge, puzzled. He wagged his little tail as if urging Dave to step back — as if he missed his favorite human already.
At that moment, something changed, something tugged hard at his heart.
He walked back hurriedly, scooped the puppy up in his arms, and held him tight. Breathing heavily, tears welling in his eyes, they stood there, wrapped in a silent embrace.
The bridge — a silent witness to their unspoken bond.
The following week, Dave sought help from a therapist, finding solace with Moobi by his side, and offering unconditional love and support. Dave finished the story about Moobi and their shared moments.
The Bridge — A Silent Witness
Even amidst what looked like good progress, there was a wavering, an unease — a shadow lingered. Dave’s eyes often drifted to the window, to the bridge where they had shared a profound moment.
One drizzly night, they found themselves back on that bridge. The air was tense, the river, usually tame, looked dark and menacing. Dave stared into the river, nodding his head slightly — as if affirming or dismissing a decision that weighed heavily on him. His eyes darted around scanning and checking the surroundings, searching for something — perhaps someone.
He turned around, with teary eyes and a trembling frame, and looked at Moobi with a swirl of emotions — love, longing, desperation, and sorrow. Moobi seemed curious — something was amiss, he sensed the shift in the mood.
Kneeling, Dave hugged him tightly, whispering words lost in the rain. He reciprocated by smothering him with kisses. Dave was fidgety and showed signs of nervous excitement, and he couldn’t wrap his head around the gravity of his feelings. His mind raced.
The Gaze of…
By morning, the city found Moobi alone on the bridge, gazing wearily into the river with longing. Dave was nowhere to be seen.
A rainbow, light and blurry, spread across the early morning sky. Moobi remembered their first meeting. Crawling out of his hideout, cautiously approaching Dave for a loaf of bread. The long night walks, cozy nights at his pod, and everything that led him here to this moment. Every memory etched in his aching heart, warmed by Dave’s love, forever…
Love — often found in the unlikeliest of places, only to fade away just when you believe it’s here to stay.
The townsfolk cared for Moobi, feeding him and offering shelter, but he never strayed far from the bridge, as if expecting someone’s return.
Moobi and Dave’s story — a somber reminder of hope’s fragility and the enduring bond between a man and his best friend — between two lives forever united by undying love. The bridge — a silent spectator to their tale — where darkness and light, love and loss wove together.
And the bridge still carries the paw prints of a puppy, and the footprints of his hooman— two souls who loved each other and tried their best to save one another. One won, the other lost…
