Today is my birthday, but it feels just like any other day. I’m sitting here in the corner, looking out at the world, feeling both hopeful and lonely. I know I should be happy. After all, it’s my special day, the day I came into this world, but the truth is, it’s hard to celebrate when no one remembers or even notices me.
I was born with just two legs. I know it’s different, and I understand why people might look at me with pity, or why they might think I’m not as “perfect” as the other dogs. I’ve spent most of my life alone, moving through the world a little slower than the others, dragging myself along, trying to keep up, trying to make myself seen. But it’s not easy. I can’t run around like the others. I can’t chase after a ball and bring it back. I can’t leap into someone’s lap and be showered with love. I can only watch from the sidelines, wishing, hoping, dreaming.
I’ve had a lot of birthdays, but they’ve always passed quietly. Most of the time, I don’t even know if anyone remembers. It’s as if the fact that I have only two legs is all anyone sees. It’s as though my heart, my love, my spirit are invisible. I want to run and play, I want to feel the joy of being held and loved, but instead, I’m here, sitting in the shadows, watching others live the life I’ve always dreamed of.
But today, something is different. It’s my birthday, and maybe, just maybe, someone will see me. Maybe someone will notice that I’m here, trying, waiting for a chance. I can feel the hope rising in my chest, a flicker of light in the darkness. Maybe today, I won’t just be the dog with two legs. Maybe today, I’ll be the dog who is loved.
I see a figure approaching. At first, I think it’s just another passerby, someone who won’t even look down at me. But this person stops. They bend down, their eyes meeting mine. “Hey there, little one,” they say gently, their voice warm and kind. I feel a rush of warmth in my heart, and for a moment, I forget about the two legs that make me different. I forget about the loneliness, the isolation. All I feel is the love in their voice.
The person reaches out and gently strokes my head. My tail starts to wag, and even though it’s small and weak, it’s the happiest it’s ever been. I’ve never been touched with so much kindness before, and in that moment, I feel seen, really seen, for the first time in my life.
“You’re such a brave little soul,” they say, and I feel a lump in my throat. I want to say thank you, to let them know how much this small act of kindness means to me, but all I can do is wag my tail harder, trying to show my appreciation.
The person doesn’t leave right away. They sit down beside me, talking to me softly, telling me I’m special, that I’m loved. It’s the first time in my life that I feel like I matter, like I’m not just the dog with two legs. I’m a dog with a heart full of love, a dog who deserves to be seen, to be loved, to be cared for.
For my birthday, all I wanted was to be remembered. To be loved, not because I have two legs, but because I’m me. And today, I got that. I may not be able to run, to jump, or to play in the same way the other dogs do, but I can love, and I can give my heart to someone who sees me for who I truly am.
As the person stands up to leave, they give me one last pat on the head. “Happy birthday, little one,” they whisper, and I feel the warmth of their words fill me up. I’m not alone today. Today, I’m loved.
I may only have two legs, but today, my heart is full. Full of love, full of hope, full of gratitude. I know that no matter what, I’m not invisible anymore. Today, I’m the dog who is loved. And that’s more than I could have ever asked for.
