As usual, Erika returned from university and saw the dog sitting across from the station. This was nothing new to her; for several weeks now, she had seen this dog every day, always sitting in the same spot.

But today was different. It was a scorching hot day, and the dog looked like it was suffering from the heat. It panted heavily, its tongue hanging out, and its fur looked matted from the sweat.

Erika couldn’t just walk by this time. Her heart ached for the poor animal. She decided to approach the dog, her footsteps slow and cautious. She extended her hand towards it, letting the dog sniff her fingers and get acquainted.

“Hello, little guy. You must be so hot. Can I pet you?” Erika said to the dog. She reached out and gently petted the dog’s head. The dog didn’t mind; it even seemed to enjoy the attention.

Erika then opened her bag and took out her lunchbox. She poured some water into the lid and placed it before the dog. “Here you go,” she said. The dog eagerly began to drink, lapping up the water with its tongue.

While the dog drank, Erika noticed it had a collar with a tag. “So, you’re not a stray?” she said, leaning in to read the tag. “Where’s your owner, then?” She looked closely and saw the dog’s name, Toby. The tag also had an address on it.

“Toby, huh? That’s a nice name,” Erika said, smiling. Toby wagged his tail happily at the sound of his name.

“Have you been abandoned, Toby?” Erika asked softly. “I know how that feels. I was abandoned too when I was little.” She sighed, feeling a connection with the dog.

Erika had grown up in foster families, but none of them had become a real family for her. Her biological parents had abandoned her when she was just a baby. Erika had always dreamed of a family, but that dream had remained unfulfilled. She often felt alone, even in a crowd.

As she sat with Toby, a station worker approached her. “Hey there, miss,” the worker said. “This dog has been coming here for years to wait for its owner to come home from work,” he said, looking at Toby with a mix of pity and admiration.

“I’ve never seen its owner. I thought it was a stray,” Erika replied, glancing at Toby, who seemed to listen intently.

“The man disappeared a few weeks ago,” the worker explained. “But the dog still comes. I think he abandoned it because I saw the dog sleeping in an abandoned building nearby.”

“Maybe he’s lost,” Erika suggested, her voice soft and concerned. “The tag has an address on it.”

“I don’t know, miss. But the dog refuses to leave. We’ve fed it and tried to take it home several times, but it always resists,” the worker said, shaking his head.

Erika turned to Toby and knelt down to his level. “If I take you to your owner, will you come with me?” she asked gently.

The worker sighed, “Miss, it’s hopeless. We’ve tried.”

“Have you talked to him?” Erika asked, her tone serious.

“Um… miss, I mean, he’s a dog,” the worker replied, clearly puzzled.

“Dogs understand everything,” Erika insisted.

She started walking and then looked back at Toby, “Come on, Toby, let’s take you home.” To the worker’s surprise, Toby followed her without hesitation.

“How did you do that?” the worker called out, amazed.

“I told you, dogs understand everything,” Erika said with a smile. Toby wagged his tail as if agreeing with her.

Erika and Toby arrived at the house listed on Toby’s tag. The house was quite large, indicating that a person of some means lived there. Erika and Toby walked up to the door.

Erika rang the bell, and after a moment, a woman not much older than Erika opened the door. The woman frowned when she saw Toby. Toby started growling at her.

“Why did you bring this mad dog to me?” the woman asked, her voice sharp and unfriendly.

“I wanted to return Toby to his owner,” Erika replied calmly.

“His owner doesn’t live here anymore,” the woman snapped.

“Where can I find him?” Erika asked, trying to stay polite.

“Listen, that’s none of your business. If you like this flea-ridden creature so much, keep it,” the woman said coldly. With that, she slammed the door in Erika’s face.

“Not very friendly,” Erika said, looking down at Toby. Toby barked at the door, clearly upset.

As Erika turned to leave, she noticed some letters left on the doorstep. She picked one up and saw that it was a bill from a nursing home.

“I promised to take you to your owner. It seems I know where to find him,” Erika said to Toby, who wagged his tail slightly.

Erika and Toby then headed to the nursing home, hoping to reunite Toby with his owner. They walked through the neighborhood, with Erika wondering about the man Toby had been waiting for all this time.

The address on the bill was not far away, so they continued walking, determined to find answers.

Erika and Toby arrived at the nursing home. As they walked through the entrance, Toby suddenly perked up, he recognized a man walking outside and ran joyfully towards him.

“Toby! I wondered where you went!” the man shouted happily, his face lighting up with joy.

Erika approached the man with Toby, who was now wagging his tail furiously. “Is this your dog?” she asked gently.

“Of course, he’s my Toby,” the man replied, smiling warmly. “I got him when he was just this small,” he said, gesturing with his hands to show how tiny Toby once was. Erika couldn’t help but smile at the thought.

“He was waiting for you by the station, so I decided to bring him to you,” Erika explained.

“What were you doing by the station, Toby?” the man asked, looking down at his loyal companion.

“I was told he’s been meeting you there from work for years,” Erika added.

“Really? I don’t remember that,” the man said, his brow furrowing in confusion. Erika frowned, sensing something was off.

“What’s your name, young lady?” the man asked, changing the subject.

“Erika,” she replied, extending her hand. The man shook it gently.

“And I… I don’t remember my name,” the man admitted, looking a bit lost.

A woman, a nurse, approached them with a kind smile. “Robert, I see you finally have visitors,” she said warmly.

“Yes, this is my dog, Toby,” Robert replied, his eyes brightening again.

Robert and Toby walked away to play, the dog jumping and barking happily.

“Honestly, we all thought Toby was imaginary,” the nurse said to Erika.

“Why?” Erika asked, puzzled.

“Robert has Alzheimer’s. He barely remembers anything and often confuses reality with imagination. But he always told very clear stories about Toby. Are you his relative?” the nurse inquired.

“No, no. I just wanted to return Toby to his owner,” Erika explained.

“I see. But you understand we can’t keep the dog here, right?” the nurse asked gently.

“Yes, but if I keep Toby, can we visit Robert?” Erika asked, hopeful.

“Of course! Robert could use the company, especially since his daughter put him here and hasn’t visited once since,” the nurse said, shaking her head sadly.

“That’s really sad,” Erika said softly.

“Yes, she claims she doesn’t have time to care for him, but there are rumors she just wanted to get his house, so she put him here,” the nurse explained.

“I think she abandoned Toby too. I was told he’s been sleeping in an abandoned building,” Erika said, feeling a surge of anger towards Robert’s daughter.

“From that witch, I wouldn’t expect anything less,” the nurse said with a sigh.

Erika called Toby, who initially didn’t want to leave Robert’s side. But when Erika promised they would visit Robert every day, Toby obediently followed her.

“We’ll see you tomorrow, Robert,” Erika said with a wave. Robert smiled and waved back, his eyes following Toby and Erika until they were out of sight.

Erika had been living with Toby for several weeks now and couldn’t imagine her life without him. Every day, they visited Robert at the nursing home. Erika would read the news and books to Robert and tell him stories about her and Toby’s adventures.

Today, as they walked around the nursing home’s grounds, Robert suddenly asked, “Don’t you need to be with your family, child?”

Erika shook her head and replied, “I don’t have one.”

Robert looked sad and said, “That’s a shame. I have a daughter, but she kept telling me to sign some documents. After I did, I never saw her again.”

Erika’s interest was piqued. “What documents?” she asked.

Robert looked confused. “What documents?”

“You said your daughter made you sign some documents,” Erika repeated gently.

Robert’s face clouded over, and he said, “Child, I don’t have a daughter.”

Erika sighed, realizing Robert’s memory was failing him again. But then she remembered the rumors about Robert’s daughter wanting his house. She began to suspect that the daughter had taken advantage of Robert’s condition to get the house.

Determined to help, Erika decided she wouldn’t let this go. She needed to find out the truth and make things right for Robert. “Don’t worry, Robert,” she said softly. “I’ll help you.” Toby wagged his tail as if agreeing with Erika’s promise.

Erika, who was studying law, decided to take the case into her own hands. She felt a strong sense of duty to help Robert, knowing he had been wronged.

One afternoon, she gathered all the information she had and went to the police station. She walked up to the front desk, her heart pounding with determination.

“Hello, how can I help you?” asked the officer at the desk.

“My name is Erika, and I need to report a case of elder abuse and fraud,” Erika said, her voice steady.

The officer looked concerned and motioned for her to follow. They walked to a small room where Erika was introduced to Detective Harris. She explained everything about Robert, his daughter, and the suspicious documents.

“Robert has Alzheimer’s,” Erika began. “His daughter made him sign documents to take his house. He didn’t know what he was doing. I believe she took advantage of his condition.”

Detective Harris listened carefully, nodding as Erika spoke. “Do you have any evidence?” he asked.

“I have letters and bills addressed to Robert, and I know the nursing home staff can confirm his condition,” Erika replied.

The detective agreed to investigate and assured Erika that they would conduct tests to determine Robert’s mental state at the time the documents were signed. Erika felt a sense of relief as she left the station, hoping justice would be served.

Weeks passed, and the tests confirmed Erika’s suspicions. It was determined that when Robert signed the documents, he was already ill and did not understand what he was signing.

The police took action, and Robert’s daughter was charged with fraud and elder abuse. She faced trial, and Erika attended every session, supporting Robert through the ordeal.

Finally, the day came when the court found Robert’s daughter guilty. She was sentenced to prison, and Robert’s house was returned to him. Erika felt a wave of satisfaction and joy. She had helped right a terrible wrong.

With Robert’s house restored, Erika moved in to take care of him. The three of them—Erika, Robert, and Toby—began their new life together in the large, welcoming home.

Each day, Erika would prepare meals, read to Robert, and take Toby for walks in the garden. Robert’s health improved with the loving care he received.

“Erika, you are like the daughter I never had,” Robert often said, his eyes filled with gratitude.

“And you are the family I always dreamed of,” Erika would reply, feeling a deep sense of belonging.

Erika continued her law studies, working hard to ensure she could protect others like Robert. She set up a small office in the house where she could study and take on cases to help those in need. Robert loved to sit nearby, listening to Erika’s stories about her classes and cases.

Toby, ever faithful, was always by their side. He would lie at Robert’s feet, his head resting on his paws, eyes half-closed in contentment. The house was filled with warmth, laughter, and the bond they shared.

Through her journey, Erika had found not only a family but also her purpose. She realized that her dream of a family had come true in the most unexpected way. She had Robert and Toby, and they formed a loving and supportive home together.