Hope Unexpected

“Go away! Stop following me”. The unkempt dog paid no attention to Emily, waiting until she’d turned before trotting behind her again. She looked over her shoulder and immediately he paused, left paw in mid-air, and, in spite of herself, Emily smiled. Still, she had to lose him before she got to the main road; it would be too dangerous to leave him there on his own—it was getting dark. She ran, not looking back until she reached the intersection, crossing her fingers before turning...