Unconditional Love

Not Every Wish Should Come True

Unconditional Love

Picture is generated with AI.

Stargazing was supposed to be fun. Even on windy August nights when the kiss of the approaching fall sneaked under the fluffiest blanket. Despite the shivers and goosebumps, Annabelle was determined to enjoy the cloudless sky and the silence of nature.

Although nature wasn’t silent at all. Leaves rattled, cricket sang, boars grunted, and rodents scraped on rocks.

With her fourth glass of wine in hand, Annabelle pulled the blanket tighter around her shoulders, determined to not let nature scare the crap out of her. She could do one weekend away from the city to recharge and get her life back on track.

A shooting star crossed the sky, and she closed her eyes to make a wish.

Unconditional love.

When she opened her eyes again, a flaming orb smashed into the ground right behind the tree line.

Anabelle froze, her heart jumping into her throat. But nothing happened. No weird aliens marching out of the woods, no wildfire spreading, nothing. Not even a tiny spark. The crickets kept singing their song; the boars grunted happily, and the rodents scraped on rocks.

Did she imagine it? With her hand still shaking, she put the glass onto the wooden floor. Maybe she shouldn’t have more alcohol tonight.

As she tried to convince herself that the flaming orb was only a product of her imagination, whining mixed into the cacophony of noises. It sounded like a puppy in distress. Right behind the treelines.

Her heart that had pounded in her throat a moment ago now sunk into the deepest pits of her stomach and, with the blanket still wrapped around her, she stumbled towards the trees despite her better judgment. After all, who could ignore that sound?

There was a hole in the ground with some metal scattered around it. Everything inside her screamed to stop and turn around, but she couldn’t. She had to see what was in there. She had to help the puppy.

She inched closer, watching the metal shards all around, and found a cute little dog sitting at the bottom in a metal baking pan. Even though he was covered in slime and shook like pudding, Annabelle couldn’t leave him.

“Come here, baby.” She scooped him up with the blanket and hugged him to her chest. “I’ll get you cleaned up and fed. Don’t worry.”

The dog snuggled closer and licked her ear, letting out a sound between a content sigh and a purr.

“I don’t know how you got here, but I’ll take care of you.”

Once inside the warm cabin, Annabelle placed the tiny pup into the bathtub to wash the pudding like slime off its fur. The poor thing was still shaking like jello, but looked content under the warm water.

When she took out the blow dryer, the dog whined, but let her dry him. It didn’t take long for the tiny fur ball to close his eyes and smile into the hot air.

“See, it’s not so bad.” Annabelle chuckled. “We’re almost done.”

He jumped her the second he was dried and licked her face and nibbled on her ear.

Annabelle laughed and hugged him tight. “I’m going to name you Pudding.”

He probably liked the name because he kept licking her ear and face.

“Okay, okay. Let’s get you some food.”

With the puppy right behind her, she went to the fridge to see what was appropriate for a dog to eat. Other than some ham and cheese, she had nothing to offer.

“Just don’t get used to this.”

Pudding devoured the treats, then ran a few circles in the tight space, sniffing the floor before stopping in the middle of the carpet.

“No, no, no, no!” Annabelle shouted, but it was too late. A puddle formed on the carpet. “Pudding!”

She wanted to be mad at the puppy, but he barked and ran to her, trying to get up on her legs while having the cutest doggy smile on his face.

“I’m going to lose the deposit.” She sighed and ruffled his fur. “Come, let’s go to sleep.”

They snuggled close to each other, and he licked her ear a few more times before yawning and drifting off to sleep. The poor puppy had to have a tiring night. Maybe even an exhausting life.

Hugging him tight to her, Annabelle closed her eyes, thinking that her wish came true. After all, who’d love her more than a dog? He wouldn’t judge her for having a bad hair day, or having hairy legs. He’d love her no matter what.

Ten hours later, Annabelle woke at the sound of suckling in her ear.

She pulled away, and saliva dripped from her hair and face. “Ugh, you’re gross.”

Pudding barked, and jumped onto her chest, wiggling his tail and licking her face three times before she burst out laughing.

“Okay. Fine. You’re cute.” She yawned. Despite the long sleep, she was still exhausted. Maybe even more than the night before.

He barked again, one short and happy sound, then was off the bed and on the carpet in a blink of an eye.

Annabelle sunk back into the pillows. “I definitely won’t get the deposit back.”

With not enough food for both of them, and Pudding in need of supplies, Annabelle decided to go home a day early, leaving some extra cash for the cleaning.

“Listen to me very carefully.” She squatted in front of Pudding and pointed at the back seat. “Don’t pee in there and don’t climb into my lap. I need you to be a good boy and stay put while I drive. Okay?”

Huge brown eyes blinked at her from the happiest face she’d seen and Pudding wiggled his tail before jumping in.

Confident that he understood her request, she took her place behind the wheel and started the car. No more than two minutes later, Pudding crawled into her lap and she stopped to put him back.

“Stay there.”

For the next thirty minutes, they battled. Annabelle pulled over and placed the dog onto the backseat every two minutes before giving up and letting the tiny fluffy thing sleep in her lap.

Even though it was a reckless decision, Annabelle couldn’t stop smiling. Pudding was the cutest thing ever, and for the first time in a long time, she wasn’t alone.

Armed with dog supplies, including food, a leash, and a carrier, they entered her apartment.

“Welcome home!” Annabelle chuckled as Pudding barked and ran off to discover the place.

They cuddled on the couch, Pudding snuggled to her neck, and she drifted off to sleep.

Once again, she woke up at Pudding suckling her ear.

“What’s up with you?” She wiped the saliva from her face. “I can’t wash my hair twice a day.”

When she sat up, a sharp pain drilled into her skull. She shouldn’t sleep on the couch in an odd position.

“Let’s go for a walk.”

Anabelle got ready, and despite taking an Advil, her headache drummed strongly. The fresh air didn’t help either, and by the time they got home, she was ready to fall asleep.

With her last bit of energy, she kicked off her shoes and fed Pudding before collapsing onto her bed and falling asleep instantly.

But morning didn’t bring redemption. The headache remained, and the world seemed foggy.

She shuffled around in her apartment, trying to get ready for work, but she couldn’t. After calling in sick, she collapsed onto the couch.

“Looks like I’m coming down with something.” Pudding jumped next to her and licked her face. “At least you’re here for me.”

With the fluffy fur ball on her chest, she fell asleep again.

When she woke at the suckling sensation, she carefully reached for her phone to take a picture. A smile played on her lips. This dog really enjoyed comforting himself with suckling.

She moved slowly, not to disturb the puppy. But when she saw what was going on, her hand shook, and she pressed her free hand into her mouth to muffle a scream.

Pudding’s jaw hung open. His tongue, a tube of some sort, plunged into her ear. Instead of licking her earlobe as she’d thought, he was sucking relentlessly.

Was he sucking her brain out?

She couldn’t hold the scream any longer and she shook off the dog, stumbling onto her feet. Pudding’s tongue disconnected, leaving blood all over her ear.

The dog growled. A deep, unearthly sound, and launched at her.

Annabelle ran to the bathroom and locked the door. Tears soaked her cheek as she crawled into the farthest corner and Pudding banged on the door.

But then exhaustion took over, and she welcomed the darkness.

It was the middle of the night when she woke again, not sure why she was in the bathroom. Something told her she shouldn’t leave the safety of the bathroom, but she dismissed the voice and opened the door.

“I’m sorry, Pudding.” She lifted the puppy and hugged him tight. “I think I have a fever. Let’s get you something to eat.”

Even the simple act of feeding a dog drained her. She should take a shower, but her legs were heavy. Her mind was foggy and shivers shook her body.

“At least you’re here for me.” She cuddled Pudding in her bed, the dog settling at her neck as always as she drifted off to sleep one last time.

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