Chapter 47

The afternoon sun was soft and golden, casting long shadows across the park as Jennie strolled along the winding path. Kuma, her little fluff ball of a dog, bounded ahead, sniffing every tree trunk and darting after fluttering leaves.

Jennie’s hands were full of groceries she had just bought from the local market—fresh bread, a bag of carrots, and a small treat she’d picked up for Kuma.

The world seemed perfect. Peaceful. Until she blinked and realized the little brown puff that was Kuma was nowhere in sight.

“Kuma?” Jennie’s voice was light at first, almost teasing, calling out to the dog like she always did. She glanced down the path, expecting to see him crouched and wagging his tail, ready to dash back to her side. But he wasn’t there.

Her heart gave a sudden, painful lurch. “Kuma?” she called again, a little louder this time, the worry in her voice growing with each step she took.

She set down the groceries, her fingers fumbling with her phone as she tried to stay calm. Maybe he had just wandered behind that bench, or maybe… maybe he had gone further.

Her chest tightened, her breathing quickened, and a small panic began to rise. She imagined him darting across the road, or worse, getting scared and running off somewhere she couldn’t reach.

Kuma was fast, surprisingly fast for such a tiny creature, and she hadn’t kept a close enough eye on him. She cursed herself softly, whispering apologies to him that he couldn’t hear, that she couldn’t stop thinking about.

“Kuma!” She ran a little, her heels tapping against the path. Her eyes scanned every tree, every bush, every shadow. The park was usually bustling with families, joggers, and cyclists, but today, it seemed eerily quiet—or maybe that was just her panic making it feel so. She crouched down, calling his name softly, then a little louder, the cracks in her voice starting to show. “Kuuuuuuma! Where are you, baby?”

Her chest tightened again, tears forming at the corners of her eyes. She sank onto a bench, gripping her phone so tightly that her knuckles turned white. She couldn’t stop imagining the worst. What if someone picked him up? What if he ran too far? What if he didn’t come back? Her phone trembled in her hand as she dialed Lisa’s number, her fiancé, the voice she trusted more than anyone’s.

“Jennie?” Lisa answered almost immediately, her tone warm and calm, but Jennie could hear the concern threading through it.

“Lisa! I-I—I lost him! Kuma! He’s gone!” Jennie’s voice broke mid-sentence, panic spilling out uncontrollably. Her tears finally spilled over, streaming down her cheeks as she whispered, “I can’t find him anywhere!”

“Okay, okay, slow down, Nini,” Lisa said softly, using the pet name that always made Jennie’s heart flutter even in moments of sheer panic. “Where did you last see him?”

Jennie tried to explain, her words tripping over each other. “We were walking along the path by the fountain… I set down the groceries to check my phone for a second… and he just… he’s gone, Lisa! I—he’s gone!”

Lisa’s calmness was grounding, but Jennie couldn’t hear it. She was hyper-focused on the empty space where Kuma had been, the small tuft of brown fur that usually bounced beside her now a terrifying absence. She dropped to her knees on the path, scanning the grass, the benches, the edges of the flower beds. She almost screamed when a small group of children ran past, thinking one of them might have picked Kuma up.

“I… I don’t know what to do, Lisa! He’s so small, he could be anywhere!” Jennie’s voice was trembling, a mixture of desperation and guilt. “I can’t believe I let this happen. I just… I just—” She choked on her words, covering her face with her hands.

“Jennie,” Lisa’s voice was firmer now, gentle but with authority. “Take a deep breath. I’m coming. Don’t move, okay? I’ll find him, I promise.”

Jennie sniffled and nodded, though Lisa couldn’t see her. “Okay… but he’s—he’s so small, Lisa. What if someone took him? What if he gets hurt?”

Lisa’s soft chuckle came through the line, the kind that always melted Jennie’s stress just a tiny bit. “Nini… he’s smart. He’s not scared of people. And he knows me. He’ll follow me, I promise.”

Jennie’s tears continued, but they were starting to mingle with a flicker of hope. “You… you really think so?”

“I know so. I’ll be there in ten minutes,” Lisa said. “Stay where you are, and don’t panic. I’ve got him.”

Jennie nodded, her hands gripping the bench so tightly she was afraid she’d leave an imprint in the wood. Her breaths were still shaky, but she tried to believe Lisa. She sat there, head bowed, imagining every scenario where she had failed Kuma—and then, in her mind’s eye, she saw Lisa approaching, her calm, steady presence ready to fix everything.

Unbeknownst to Jennie, Kuma had indeed wandered off—but not far. The little dog’s nose had caught a familiar scent: Lisa. Lisa, walking down the park path with her calm and confident stride, had come to fetch them.

Kuma’s tail wagged furiously as he padded toward her, ears perked and eyes bright. He didn’t run into danger. He ran to the person he trusted the most, Lisa, who had come for him just like she always would.

By the time Jennie’s panicked sobs were starting to quiet down into shaky hiccups, Kuma had already reached Lisa. Lisa bent down, scooping him up into her arms, smiling down at him. “There you are, little troublemaker,” she murmured.

Kuma wriggled happily, tail wagging, pressing himself against her chest. Lisa’s phone buzzed with Jennie’s panicked calls, and she quickly answered, holding Kuma close.

“Nini? He’s fine,” Lisa said, her voice calm and teasing. “He’s with me. See?”

Jennie’s eyes widened, her face lighting up in disbelief and relief. “W-what? He’s… he’s with you? You found him?”

Lisa laughed softly, walking closer to where Jennie was still crouched on the bench. “Of course I found him. He’s smart, remember? And he knows who’ll keep him safe.”

Jennie leapt to her feet, rushing forward and nearly falling into Lisa’s arms. “Oh my god! Kuma! You little—little rascal! You scared me half to death!” She hugged both Lisa and Kuma, tears streaming freely now, this time tears of relief and pure joy. She pressed her face into Lisa’s shoulder, her sobs muffled but trembling with laughter and hysteria.

Lisa stroked Jennie’s hair, laughing softly. “You looked so panicked, Nini. You were about to start a full-scale search party,” she teased gently.

“I—don’t even joke about it!” Jennie laughed through her tears, holding Kuma tightly and sneaking small kisses onto his furry head. “I thought I lost him forever! I was… I was losing my mind, Lisa!”

“You didn’t lose him,” Lisa said, tilting Jennie’s chin up to meet her eyes. “He just wanted me. He knew I’d come.”

Jennie blinked through her tears, letting out a shaky laugh. “I… I can’t believe it. I almost lost it completely.”

Lisa grinned, holding Jennie’s face in her hands. “Hey, you don’t have to go through that alone. Kuma is fine, and so are you. Now come on, let’s go home before you start crying again.”

Jennie chuckled, finally allowing herself to relax. She gave Kuma a gentle squeeze, murmuring, “You little trickster…” before looking back at Lisa with a mixture of love and gratitude that made her chest feel warm. “Thank you, Lisa. Seriously. You always save us.”

Lisa smiled, tucking Kuma securely under one arm and taking Jennie’s hand in the other. “Always. That’s what I’m here for.”

And with Kuma happily nestled in Lisa’s arms, Jennie finally felt the weight of her panic lift. The park was peaceful again, the sunlight warm on their backs, and for the first time in what felt like forever, Jennie was completely, blissfully safe.