Everything that has a beginning will have an end. Only what has always existed will remain so.

*****

"There are as many ways to live as there are people living" was a saying of my uncle that I have been thinking about a lot since his funeral. He was a wise man but stubborn as no one else. Maybe that's why he never married, and you could count the friendships he had in his life on one hand.

In the end, no one else attended his funeral. Just as I was his only living relative, he was mine. As someone following his lonely footsteps closely, I can say that there are indeed different ways of living, but I am not sure that ours is the right one.

"Woof!"

A sharp bark interrupted the thoughts that had plagued me from time to time for the past few days. It hasn't been long since the funeral, so reminiscence was to be expected. Although I was already used to goodbyes, when I thought this was the last one, I couldn't help but immerse myself in melancholy.

"Woof! Woof!"

The barking was becoming more and more impatient. Of course, it belonged to my pet. Someone might think he was comforting me in dog language: "You still have me." But the reality was that he was simply frustrated because I kept looking out the window with his plate in my hands.

"Don't worry, Alexander, your food is not going to disappear on its own."

The little mixed-breed dog that was circling my feet jumped headfirst into his food once I put it down. As a good fan of historical literature, I had named him in honor of the famous Macedonian king, Alexander the Great.

A rather presumptuous name for such a small dog, but his daring nature and habit of choosing battles with minimal chances of victory were the same. The difference was that Alexander the Great did win them.

For his part, I had to take Alexander, the dog, to the vet twice for fighting with the neighbor's dogs. Thanks to said neighbor's camera, it is clear that Alexander is the one who likes to invade the territory of his enemies.

It's definitely something I have to correct in the future.

"Woof!" Having finished his breakfast, Alexander approached with his harness on his snout.

"So you have the intelligence to know that you need that for walks but not to realize that it is a bad idea to attack two dogs five times your size."

After petting him a little, I took the harness in my hands and left it in its place.

"We already had a walk in the morning; you know I have work now; the next one is when I'm back."

After saying this, I opened the door so Alexander could go out to the garden, which he did without complaint. He already knew there were no more walks in the morning, but he probably thought he had nothing to lose by trying.

After a while, I also went out and closed the door of my house. It was small, but it had a fairly large front yard. Of course, it was my parents' inheritance and was already mortgaged to pay debts.

Before leaving, I made sure that the holes under the fence separating us from the neighbor were covered. The little demon had already started digging another one while I was checking, but at his pace, it would not be ready before I got back.

I knew it wouldn't have much effect, but I decided to scold him a little anyway, hoping he would learn one day. Alexander's reaction was to come over to lick my shoe and then return to his hard work as an excavator...

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*****

"Isn't that the son of the president of the board?"

"Yes, he attended the Christmas party with him."

"He seems quite young."

While working on organizing the budget for one of the company's future projects, I heard murmurs around me.

Looking up from my desk, I saw a young man in a T-shirt leaving the head of my department's office. Even though his eyes were glued to his phone, he managed to avoid crashing into anything on his way to the elevator.

Was that perhaps a talent of the new generations?

Not long after, one of my colleagues went to the boss's office to deliver a report, and after a couple of minutes, he returned, but in the direction of my position.

"The boss is looking for you. He seemed pretty serious, so you better hurry up."

"How strange, he commissioned me to prepare the budget in the morning; he couldn't possibly think it's ready..."

"I don't know. Frankly, that's not my problem." After saying this, my colleague held up some documents that he was carrying in his hand. "This is my problem."

After sighing, I got up from the chair to head to my superior's office.

"Take a seat, please."

Seeing me enter, the head of the department pointed with his open hand to one of the chairs in front of his desk.

If he invited me to sit down, it was because we were discussing a serious topic. I complied, preparing myself.

"Listen, I like how you work, always efficient and without complaints. You also have excellent organizational skills." The head of the department put his hands together, pondering his following words. "With a little more time, you could have become a valuable part of our company…"

"Would you have?... You can speak bluntly, boss. Does it have to do with the president's son?"

"You have good observation skills; it's really a shame that we have to let you go."

"It wasn't a difficult deduction... Just a few hours ago I started the budget for a new project, and after his visit, out of nowhere, I have to leave."

"I'm sorry, my hands are tied, your position was the most convenient to be transferred to him..."

"Don't worry. I know I'm one of the newest hires and was just starting a new project. Replacing me is easier than replacing anyone else."

There was no point in getting angry with the department head. It was true that I was the best choice.

I also have nothing against the president's son. Each one is free to use the resources at his disposal. Besides, it's not like he pointed the finger at me. He doesn't even know who I am.

"I will write a good recommendation, plus you will receive your due compensation," my "former" boss extended his hand to me from across the desk. "You are young and capable; I know you will find a new job in no time."

I shook the offered hand without commenting on the irony that my replacement was significantly younger than me and retreated to organize my things while HR prepared the paperwork.

*****

No one had told me how embarrassing walking around with my belongings in a box would be. Mainly because of the looks of pity that the rest of the pedestrians gave me...

But I was indeed in a complicated situation; not even with the mortgage on my house, I had been able to pay all my debts. Added to these were the expenses of the recent funeral of my uncle.

"Will Alexander notice if his food changes brand to something a little cheaper? I'll have to tighten my belt too..."

After an uncomfortable bus ride and an even more uncomfortable walk, I could finally see the gate to my front yard. But something wasn't right; it was open.

I quickened my pace with my heart in my throat, but it was too late. The sight that greeted me made me drop the box I was carrying in my hands, which crashed to the ground.

In front of me, lying on the grass, was the body of my dog Alexander. Approaching him, I realized he had a hole in his head; someone had given him a brutal blow with a hammer.

"I always told you to choose your battles better..."

I took the little dog in my arms since I didn't want to leave him lying in the yard and took him inside the house to wrap him.

Of course, the door to the house was forced open, and the interior was a mess. Although I never imagined anyone would want them, my old computer and even older television had disappeared. It was probably a consolation prize since they couldn't find anything of value.

Once I wrapped Alexander in his favorite blanket, I took him back to the yard. I searched for the shovel from among my gardening tools and prepared to welcome the night by digging my friend's resting place.

*****

"Only those who know where their life will take them can allow themselves a shortcut…"

That was another of my uncle's sayings. But what can someone do when he doesn't even know the way?

Sitting on the bench in the square near my house, I meditated on the day that had ended. While contemplating the starry sky, I felt something drip down my right cheek; when I touched it with my hand, I realized it was a rebellious tear.

"It's been a while since I saw one... I didn't even cry at the funeral."

I thought I had turned into a cold and unfeeling person with the passing years, but it seems it was still not the case.