Aiden stood by the moving truck, his hands resting on the last box he had packed from the apartment. He hesitated for a moment, staring at the familiar cardboard edges before finally lifting it into the truck and setting it down with the rest of his belongings. It was done. The apartment was empty, stripped of the few possessions he had bothered to collect over the years.

He turned to look back at the building one last time. The small, cramped space where he had spent the past few years felt like a shadow of the life he once imagined for himself. It had become dull, a place where the routine of work, sleep, and a slowly draining sense of purpose played out on repeat.

The apartment had once been a refuge, but lately, it had felt more like a cage. The walls that used to comfort him now pressed in too tightly. He couldn’t remember when things had started to fade—the colors of his life growing duller with each passing day. He hadn’t noticed it at first, the slow decline, but now, standing on the threshold of change, he felt it acutely.

I lost myself somewhere along the way, Aiden thought. But maybe… maybe that’s about to change.

He gave the apartment one last look before turning his back on it for good. The truck rumbled to life as he set off, the city streets passing by in a blur. He was heading toward something new—his grandfather’s house, a place filled with secrets, as his grandfather told him, that he hadn’t yet begun to uncover.

As he drove, something caught his eye—a bright, colorful ice cream truck parked by the sidewalk. It seemed out of place amidst the hustle and bustle of the city, almost like a relic from a simpler time. He couldn’t remember the last time he had even thought about ice cream, let alone eaten any. His life had become a routine of coffee and frozen meals, with no room for something as innocent as a cone of ice cream.

But today… today felt different.

Without thinking, he pulled over and parked. He approached the truck, feeling a bit ridiculous, but also strangely excited. “What’ll it be?” the vendor asked, flashing him a wide grin.

Aiden glanced at the menu, but his mind was already made up. “I’ll take all of these,” he said, pointing to his favorite flavors—strawberry, butterscotch cookies and cream, and rocky road—all piled high on a single cone. He didn’t care if it made him look like a kid. It had been too long since he’d done something just because it made him happy.

With the cone in hand, he wandered over to a small park nearby. The sun was warm on his face, and for the first time in a while, he felt a flicker of lightness inside him. Sitting down on a bench, he let the sweetness of the ice cream melt on his tongue, the familiar flavors bringing back memories of simpler times—summers spent running through his grandfather’s garden, sticky hands, and laughter that had felt endless.

As he was sitting, something caught his eye—a small box, tucked away near a tree, with something moving inside. Aiden frowned, squinting toward the box. Slowly, he stood up and walked over, his heart sinking as he realized what it was.

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Inside the box, curled up and shivering, was a small French bulldog. Its fur was patchy, and it looked underfed, ribs just barely visible under its coat. Its dark eyes peered up at him, full of uncertainty and exhaustion. The dog’s ears were too large for its head, its face wrinkled with folds of skin that only made it look sadder. Its dirty white coat was matted, and there was a kind of dullness in its gaze, like it had been left here for too long without anyone caring.

Aiden slowly crouched down. The dog stared back at him, not moving, its eyes wide and pleading. Aiden reached into his jacket pocket, remembering the pack of biscuits he had grabbed before leaving his apartment. He always kept some around for a quick snack, though he hadn’t expected to be sharing them with a stray today.

“Here, buddy,” Aiden said softly, pulling out a biscuit and holding it out in front of the dog.

The dog sniffed the air cautiously, its small nose twitching before it slowly inched forward, hesitant but curious. Aiden smiled as the dog took the biscuit gently from his hand, chewing it with deliberate slowness. It was clearly starving, but still careful, as if afraid of being scolded for taking food.

“You poor thing,” Aiden muttered, reaching out hesitantly. The dog didn’t flinch, just looked at him with those big, watery eyes. Aiden’s chest tightened. He knew he should walk away—he already had too much to deal with, too much uncertainty ahead—but those eyes…

What am I supposed to do? he thought, biting his lip. I can’t just leave it here.

He glanced around the park, half-hoping someone would come forward, but there was no one in sight. The dog’s eyes never left his, and despite the mess of his own life, Aiden couldn’t bring himself to turn away. It was like something clicked inside him, a connection he hadn’t expected to feel.

He sighed, running a hand through his hair. “Okay, buddy,” he said softly, “I guess it’s you and me.”

Gently, he lifted the dog from the box, cradling it in his arms. It was lighter than he expected, its small body trembling slightly as it rested against his chest. Aiden could feel the dog’s bony ribs beneath its thin coat, and the thought made his heart ache.

What the hell am I doing? he wondered, shaking his head. This was an impulse, something he hadn’t thought through—but he knew, deep down, it was the right thing to do. He couldn’t leave the dog behind.

He carried the dog back to the truck, settling it carefully on the passenger seat before getting back behind the wheel. The dog’s eyes followed him, wide and watchful, but it didn’t make a sound.

The drive continued, and as the city fell away behind them, the familiar countryside began to open up. Aiden’s heart raced as he neared his grandfather’s house, the sprawling estate looming on the horizon like something out of a dream.

By the time he pulled into the driveway, the sun had started to dip below the trees, casting long shadows across the grounds. Aiden parked the truck and sat for a moment, taking it all in. His grandfather’s house—the place where so much of his childhood had unfolded—was now his. The thought filled him with a strange mixture of excitement and unease.

He glanced over at the dog, who had curled up into a small ball on the seat, its eyes closing as it drifted into sleep.

“Welcome home,” Aiden whispered, though he wasn’t sure if the words were meant for the dog or for himself.

With a deep breath, he opened the door and stepped out. The house waited for him, silent and imposing.