The morning air was still cool and light. Melony lay stretched out on her bed as the soft sunlight brushed her face. The moment she opened her eyes, a bright smile crept across her lips—as if her world had changed overnight.

She took a deep breath, catching the scent of rain-soaked earth fresher than ever. The memory of a warm, soft belly sent her heart fluttering. She sprang out of bed with new energy, feeling instantly that…

—Time would no longer pass so slowly—

She tiptoed down the steep staircase, opened the towering fridge with its 38 food compartments, and grabbed sausages, bread, and a carton of milk. She stuffed them into her old cloth bag. Her long fingers reached up to take a towel scrap her mom had prepared for art class, from the high table. That went into the bag too.

—Today, it would become a blanket for the big-pawed pup—

Melony walked through misty wet grass back to the giant tree. Morning light sparkled silver on the grass tips. She gently ducked under the branches and roots. Everything looked more familiar than yesterday.

And again… silence.

“Big-paws…” she whispered softly. No response.

“I’m here now…”

Crrrsh… Soft footsteps rustled dry leaves. From the shadows, the big-pawed puppy slowly poked out his round head. His messy fur was still a little damp from the morning mist. He stared at her with wide eyes and stepped forward hesitantly.

Melony gently reached out her hand. “Here, I brought something for you…”

She placed the towel in front of him and opened the milk carton. The pup sniffed it, timid but curious. The familiar scent of milk made him begin to lick tentatively.

She carefully unwrapped the sausage and bread from her bag and placed it in front of the mother dog, then turned back to the pup with a look of pure affection.

“You eat a lot, huh?” The chubby little dog was clearly enjoying the light sweetness of the milk. He slowly leaned into her with contentment.

He licked the milk until the carton was dry. His fur around the mouth was soaked white. He kept licking the empty box. Melony laughed. The big-pawed pup grabbed the milk carton, stepped over her legs, and sat in her lap—which was covered by a long shirt like a hammock.

For the first time, he rested his head on her lap without trying to run away.

Melony grinned wide, a thought forming in her heart. She turned to say something to the mother dog…

Two hearts beat together with new strength… Melony was starting to understand that happiness could begin with soft fur, a warm belly, and a pair of big, innocent eyes.