He firmly held on the fur of his dog’s neck. His view was caught by the sunset. The warm autumn sun caressed the young man’s face. He was standing at the shore, water swashed around his feet. The dog looked up to his owner and whined softly.
Some seagulls were shrieking while fishing small fish out of the sea. There were neither boats in sight, nor any humans. The world was silent except for the noises of the animals.
“Where are we going, my friend?” The man stroked the dog. “What is our aim?” He sighed.
Then he continued in a whisper: “Oh, I’m so lost… What about you, pal?” He shook his head. “You miss them as well, don’t you? But we shouldn’t give up now. I mean, look, the sun is going down now… but returns every morning in all its magnificence. Well, can we compare ourselves to the sun anyway? What’s our life-task now, with them left us? Oh, if I knew whether there is any sense in life… It’s so confusing… We’ve reached a watershed moment. Now the question is, will the sea devour us? Or will we rule the water?”
The man bent down and grabbed a fistful of sand, letting it slowly trickle through his fingers.
His other hand rested still on the back of the calm dog.
Suddenly the hound froze, the ears pricked and his hackles raised. Someone was approaching.
The man noticed the alertness of his dog and turned around slowly.
It was a young boy. “They sent me to bring you and Gobeith back. Will you join me?”
He shrugged. “Yeah”, he said after a short pause and rubbed Gobeith’s neck.
It was dark. The man and his dog joined the boy and they walked back to the others.
“I know it’s hard for you, John, and I’m really sorry for you and Gobeith, but life has to go on, anyway. Keep this in mind, don’t despair.” The dog whimpered.
