Chapter 2

Selena’s pov

“Please don’t leave me, Puffy, you are all that I have,” I cried out, hugging my dog, Puffy, who had just been lying down in his kennel since yesterday not eating.

I left her food on her plate last night thinking she was just throwing her normal tantrum, you can say Puffy is spoiled. When I checked the plate this morning, it was untouched, that’s when I knew something was wrong with Puffy. Puffy likes meatballs a lot, you can say it’s her favorite, refusing to eat the meatballs is screaming danger.

I carried her and walked out heading to just one place in my mind, the chapel. Puffy is a white dog with full hair. I love her so much.

The scent of incense lingered in the air, welcoming me immediately as I stepped foot in the chapel. Wooden chairs are arranged accordingly, making the place neat and organized.

I placed Puffy gently on the floor and knelt in front of the altar.

I clasped my hands tightly together, my eyes closed. My lips move in silent petition, whispering to the heavens. My heart was heavy with worries but I had faith in the lord.

“Oh lord, my dog hasn’t eaten for days. His once bright eyes are now dull with fever and Puffy looks lean.

Please, lord,” I whispered with a breakable voice, “heal him. Don’t take him away from me, he is all I have. Puffy is a good girl. She shouldn’t be sick, lord.”

My ocean blue eyes filled with tears, tears that were about to fall out. Puffy stares at me innocently with a soft bark. “You will be alright, my Puffy,” I smiled and touched the hairs on her body.

I continue praying to the lord. Someone touched me and I turned to see Aunty Anya with a worried look. She is the oldest Nun among us so we call her Aunty to show some respect. She has served the lord for decades. Her eyes held concern and worry.

“What’s wrong, child?” she asked.

“It’s Puffy, she won’t eat nor drink. I am praying to God to save and heal her since Mother said there is nothing the lord can’t do. We just have to kneel and pray to ask God for what we want.”

“Oh child, there is only so much prayer we can do. Heaven helps those who help themselves. Take her to the clinic, child.”

I looked up with hope, cleaning my eyes with one hand. “Why didn’t I think of that? Yes, the clinic.”

I bent down and gently carried Puffy. I ran out in joy like a person that just won a lottery.

“Careful, child, don’t fall down or you will lose your teeth,” I could hear Aunty Anya shout out at the peak of her voice.

I got to the clinic looking dull with Puffy in my hand.

“Oh, our Angelica voice is here, would you like to sing us a song?” a nurse said. Everyone looked at me smiling, waiting for me to sing a song. I always come to the clinic and volunteer to help because I plan on becoming a nurse someday. That’s one of the reasons why everyone knows me here apart from the fact that I sang so beautifully in church, some people come to church just to hear me sing. I was even made the lead choir because of how beautiful I sang.

“Who made our Angelica voice angry so we could give the person some injection?” the nurse said jokingly when she noticed my mood.

“Nobody, please save the injections, I think my dog will need it,” I replied, showing Puffy needed help.

“Oh, poor thing!” She collected Puffy and checked his vitals and likes. “Don’t worry, Puffy will be fine once she gets to the vet doctor.

I have placed a call for an ambulance to take you to a friend of mine who is a vet doctor, she won’t charge you anything.”

“Oh, thank you so much, nurse. I’m going to repay your kindness.”

She laughed so hard. “All I need is to hear your voice all day and that’s it, you don’t need to repay me.

The ambulance will be here to take you to the vet outside. You will get to see the city you’ve been dreaming so hard to see all this while.”

“Outside?” I asked in shock. I haven’t been outside the four walls of this chapel before. I’ve lived my life serving the lord, singing the hymn and preaching sermons to the young ones. The outside work is ungodly and sinful.

Puffy let out a soft cry.

Pimpin.

The sound echoes indicating the arrival of the ambulance. I stood before the ambulance hugging Puffy tight. My white dress fluttered in the breeze and my heartbeat was faster than normal.

“Puffy, I’m scared. Please help me, lord,” I prayed silently to heaven.

And then I stepped into the ambulance. The ambulance took off afterward. He drove for hours before I started seeing houses, not just the normal houses beside the chapel but big giant houses, the ones in cities just like it was read to us in the chapel.

I looked out of the window and admired every beautiful building, we passed through a playground and I saw children playing and having fun. I looked at them with joy and amazement.

The ambulance pulled over at the vet store. I carry my frail dog in my arms. I stepped into the vet store, my heart pounding with concern and worry.

The vet doctor is an elderly woman, she welcomed me with open arms and even made jokes about her friend who couldn’t stop talking about my voice. “You can place your dog on the table, she will be fine in a minute.”

I placed Puffy on the examination table.

The vet, a middle-aged woman with kind and peaceful eyes, examines Puffy carefully with different tools. After some minutes, she looked up with a concerned expression.

“Your dog is alright, she is just dehydrated and malnourished,” she said. “I will keep on taking care of her but you have to get some medication for me at the pet pharmacy. I ran out of it. It’s just two blocks away.”

“Of course,” I nodded. I’m happy that Puffy will be alright.

I walked out of the vet store and headed towards the pet pharmacy just like the way she explained.

I opened the glass door and walked in. The pharmacy looks big with shelves lined with bottles and boxes. The store was empty. No one was there. I walked to the counter and just when I was about to head out, I heard a faint voice.

I stood still to be sure.

Then I froze.