The next morning, Laura arrived early at the bus depot with a plan forming in her mind. She packed a small container of food, filled a bowl with fresh water, and tucked them both into her bag before starting her route. As the bus pulled into the familiar stop at 7:15, she glanced out the window and there he was. Max sat exactly where he always did, perfectly still, his gaze fixed on the horizon. Laura smiled sadly and whispered under her breath, “You really don’t give up, do you?” When the passengers boarded, she caught herself checking the rearview mirror again and again, as if she expected someone to walk in who never would. After her shift, she drove back to the old blue house. Max was there, lying beside the gate this time, head resting on his paws. His fur glowed softly in the afternoon light, and when he heard her footsteps, his ears twitched.

Laura placed the food and water down a few feet away and sat cross-legged on the sidewalk. “It’s okay, boy. You don’t have to be scared,” she said softly. Max sniffed the air but didn’t move closer. Instead, he watched her with quiet curiosity. For several days, Laura kept coming back, sitting near him, talking in a calm voice. She told him about her day, about the people she met on her route, even about the silly things passengers did. Slowly, Max began to inch closer a few steps one day, a few more the next. By the end of the week, something incredible happened. As she sat beside him, Max rested his head gently against her knee. Laura froze, hardly daring to breathe. Then she smiled, tears welling in her eyes. “There you go, buddy,” she whispered. “You’re not alone anymore.”

That small moment of trust changed everything. From that day on, Max started meeting her not just at the bus stop, but at the corner near her depot too. He’d wag his tail when he saw her bus coming, his eyes bright with recognition.

Continue reading on the next page to see how Laura’s kindness leads to an unforgettable ending.