• The sun shone bright over a large meadow. Occasionally, a thin trees could be seen, their diminutive branches providing enough shadow for a bird or two. It was silent except for the sound of leaves rustling and the barking that slowly became louder. A small dog ran across the meadow, its fur fluttered in the wind as it ran from its master.
    A girl ran after her dog, giggling as she slowly caught up. For a child to catch up to a canine was amazing, even more so when she ran past the mutt and beat it to a tree.
    "I win!" She hopped up and down and giggled as she waited for her companion to catch up.
    The pup ran at her then pounced in the air, the girl outstretched her hands ready to catch it...
    ~*~*~*Years Later...
    A woman sits at a desk typing on a keyboard, she is frantically gathering ideas and trying to place them in an orderly fashion on the computer screen. A small shaggy dog went up to her and pawed her leg while whining softly.
    "Not now! I'm busy!" she shoved him aside with her foot and continued typing. The dog walked away with its tail between its legs and curled up in a corner of the room. He lied there silently for the next few hours.
    ~*~*~*That night*~*~*~
    "I'm home!" she called out as she locked the door behind her. She looked around, but couldn't see her life-long companion. "Lucky? Come here boy!" she whistled as she walked around the house. She was starting to feel anxious when she remembered that sometimes he slept on her bed. She ran to her bedroom door and yanked it open.
    "Luck-... Lucky?" she noticed a small figure on her bed. She sat beside it and began to pet him. After a few moments she stopped abruptly. "...Lucky?" She lifted him...
    ______________________________________________________________________
    Lucky passed away from old age that night. His owner never got over it, she had taken him for granted for far too long. The last time she had played with him was over 20 years ago.
    Cherish what you possess. You don't know when you'll lose it so make every moment last.