From his sisters perspective, getting himself companionship was long overdue. And when it came to her, it was like a long lost matchstick found its box.

When their paths crossed the first time, he wouldn't really notice her. In fact, he really didn't want to notice any of the dogs and even put a fake phone number on the receptionist form. "Can't you just act like you're interested, brother?" Nora whispers in his face, her eyebrows shaped like two arrows. Tom answered with a slight smile, and proceeded to follow her through the cranky door.

They were greeted with a mix of barking, hissing and scratching sounds of paws hitting metal. The shelter had to be home to 30 dogs at minimum.

Her waxy grey hair was covering her little eyes, but it was like her glare was burning through them with a hot, fixed stare to her neighbouring box. There, a younger dog fed her 4 mieping puppies. Her paws, resting like two rocks, in a perfect symmetry. "This is Milady." the nurse said, pointing at the little heap. "She's gone through a lot, she's eight years old. Luckily she's more or less healthy. She got her left foot crushed by her former owner. Since then she's unable to walk with it and limps. So, no big walks with this little one, or else she gets even grumpier than she already is." the nurse laughs. "Oh and please by the love of the lord, no cats! She can't even stand other dogs." now the nurse was making a sign with her eyes, refering to the puppy situation, as if Milady could hear her.

Tom was looking at the little madame. "Maybe it wouldn't be that bad to buy a dog. And this one even seemed easy to handle. No big walks, no pet play dates, and his sister would finally leave him alone. This little heap could be his way out of this social obligation his family is hanging over his head. His time was overdue. He was 46 years old and a forever bachelor. Nobody would choose him, and nobody except him would choose her too.