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As he licked the dirt from his paw he caught a whiff of that old familiar scent .. He knew she was about .. He knew .. soon she would walk by frantically he stood .. trying to look over his coat to make sure every stand of fur was in place he turned to pick up his bone and that's when he saw her tongue panting eyes wide open he stared in amazement and awe Never in all of his years has he seen such a wonderful beauty her whiskers line up perfectly as if she trimmed them he ears stood alert and even as she graciously walked Her movement was a perfection in angulation nothing moved but her limbs . It was as if she was being carried her head didn't bob .. didn't waver from the top line

Yes he loved her but He knew he could never tell her for two reasons that doomed all dreams he had .. for one he was a clumsy ox often knocking into things rolling in the mud and just looking awful He was the type of dog that instead of walking around the tiny puddle somehow he'd tramps right thru it tracking mud and grime everywhere he was big heavy and as he put it "An ugly dog" The other reason went against nature Went against the very thing he was taught from day one Yes she was a cat He was told he should chase them not love them but to kill them

So he never said a word though even if he could muster up the reasoning to do so Her beauty froze him If he took one step each leg would move on its own and he would wind up falling on his face Yes a sad situation but as a overgrown Mastiff His cousins were agile and nimble .. often winning championships and ribbons in the agility, conformation and obedience shows .. but him ahhh it was as if he was the runt of the litter only in reverse He was to big to floppy and he could never make it He often wondered why his master kept him around yes he was a sad sort and he knew it

As everyday at this time she walked by glanced at him and said what she did every day "Hello Duke How are you today I hope your feeling good" and just as everyday . He had the same reaction ... A simple "Hello dear" then he'd turn to the left away from her and bow his head because he didn't want her to see the tears welling up in his eyes his chest would fill with love and pride . then he would take a deep breath and with out fail they came flowing as if waterfall Partly because he loved her so much .. and partly because he knew that never in his lifetime could they be together .. but always he's have the same reaction

She'd walk on by He would watch her until she disappeared and then he would continue on his way He knew she wouldn't look back . She never did he knew that once she said her hellos she didn't think of him again until the next day in the same area and at the same time

Or so he thought

Today as if any other day His heart fluttered and his mind beamed .. and she said her morning piece only today as she passed .. she offered a wink and a nod now what might not sound like no big deal to you was to him his mind raced to every corner of his mind he thought he wondered as he was about to turn he heard it it was as if a lion roared his head swung around to look and they were on here like a pack of wolfs biting .. pawing trying to kill her with one might swipe thrash

He didn't think he didn't plan he just reacted reacted with his heart not his mind .. not his courage .. but with his pure passion for her within three steps he was already running faster that any one of his brothers did with a leap of the garbage can he already jumped higher than any of his family members With a swift and fluid motion he entered the fray There were 5 dogs total in the pack his jump over the garbage can turned there attention to him they dropped her lying there .. in pain .. hurt .. crying and meowing The moment they left her .. she struggled to her feet and as she heard Duke yell RUN .. she took off faster then she had ever run before turning the fence she leaped jumped and soon was in the tree her heart was beating .. her body was hurting and she couldn't stop the bleeding in her right leg .. yet something made her turn .. something drew her to look back

He could not believe the courage and grace of duke and he fought with the ferocity of a grizzly the power of a elephant and the grace of a swan she watched as her knight in shining armor fought beat and trashed the pack when all was said and done they carried away three as they ran Duke was to busy fighting to think but as soon as it was safe his thoughts turned to her his angel he went to move .. to run after her .. to make sure she was ok the minute he did he fell the fight being over and the adrenalin stopping pumping he felt his wounds . As he collapsed with a loud thump he cried out just one time ANGEL and as he lay whimpering crying in pain his only thought was that she was dead he didn't make it there in time

He head a whisper .. opened his eyes and looked up from his pit of despair and pain he saw his beauty .. standing over him .. looking down crying calling his name one look at her and all his pain stopped .. she tried to say something but he hushed her saying Don't say a word .. I did it because I love you I have always loved you from the first moment I saw you .. I loved you all these years of being alone being sad of being called names every morning ..I would wake up .. because I knew you would be walking by I knew you would be saying hello You gave me a reason to breathe a reason to get up and walk it was you that I lived for .. and now .. it is you that I die for I don't ask for you to love me the same I know your love for me is but a friend but please know that I lived every day to see you and to love you

Her eyes welled up with tears she tried to talk but words were so hard to speak she whispered into his ear My baby my handsome handsome prince Everyday my sole reason for walking by here was to see your face to feel the goodness in your soul
to start my day with the beauty of your heart so that no matter what happened throughout the day I knew I could reflect on you and all would be better

He looked up at her with tears in his eyes and said one final message My baby I did not know I couldn't have imagined but know this from now on to feel my love you no longer have to look for me all you have to do is look within for I will be in your heart for now and until we meet again I will be you guarding angel

with that his eyes closed and his breath escaped his mouth for the last time and she broke knowing that laying before her was everything she ever wanted in life .. everything she dreamt about she broke because every word she said was a lie she never though of him except to poke fun behind his back she winked and nodded at him because she lost a bet she never gave him the chance to let her know the goodness that lay in her heart and now that she knows what is inside him its to late she judged him by his appearance and not for who he was and she will live in that regret every day of her life

Days became weeks spun to years .. and every day she walked by his grave just as she did in the mornings when he was alive and still to this day she whispers the words "Hello Duke How are you today I hope your feeling good" and as everyday she would pause just for a moment awaiting a reply though none ever came

except for some strange reason as a natural reaction her heart would flutter her eyes would grow misty she would look to the left and bow her head a tear would born in here eye flutter down here cheek and come to rest on her lip and till the end of days she never knew why