The Forgotten Promise

Once upon a time, there was a little girl named Emily who dreamed of having a puppy of her own. Every time she passed the pet store, she would stop and stare at the adorable puppies through the window, standing there for what felt like forever.

On her birthday, Emily's dad approached her with a mysterious smile. “Emily, I have a very special gift for you,” he said. From behind his back, he revealed a small basket. A faint whimpering sound came from inside.

Emily’s eyes widened with excitement as her dad lifted a corner of the basket lid. Out peeked a tiny white puppy with big, sparkling eyes, gazing at her curiously. Emily gasped, her hands covering her mouth, her joy shining through her teary eyes.

Her dad knelt beside her and said gently, “This little one is our new family member. Emily, you must promise to take good care of him. You’ll make many friends in your life, but for this puppy, you’re his only friend. No matter what, don’t forget him, okay?”

Emily nodded eagerly. “I promise! I’ll take the best care of him!”

Carefully cradling the puppy, Emily asked, “What’s his name?”

Her dad smiled. “He’s your new companion. Why don’t you name him?”

The puppy’s fluffy white fur and soft, chubby body reminded Emily of a marshmallow. “I’ll call him Marshmallow!” she declared.

From that day, Emily and Marshmallow became inseparable. No matter where Emily went, Marshmallow followed, wagging his tail happily. They ate, played, and shared countless joyful moments together.

A year later, Emily started elementary school and made many new friends. Every afternoon, she couldn’t wait to play with them after school, often forgetting about the loyal puppy waiting for her at home.

While Emily was at school, Marshmallow would sit quietly by the door, eagerly waiting for her return. But when Emily came home, she was too busy chatting with her friends to notice him.

Sometimes, Marshmallow tried to get her attention, but Emily would push him away, saying, “Marshmallow, I’m busy. Stop bothering me.” His ears drooped, and he’d retreat to his little bed, feeling lonely and rejected.

As days passed, Marshmallow grew quieter and more isolated. Emily had become his whole world, and now that she ignored him, he felt abandoned. He would sit by the window, staring out at the world with sad, longing eyes.

One day, Marshmallow seemed unusually tired. He no longer wagged his tail or played like he used to. Emily’s mom noticed something was wrong and took him to the vet. After an examination, the vet delivered somber news: Marshmallow was seriously ill and needed surgery.

“The surgery is risky, with only a 50% chance of success,” the vet warned. “Make sure to spend as much time as possible with him this week.”

When Emily heard the news, she was heartbroken. She rushed to Marshmallow’s side and saw him lying in a corner, his eyes glistening with sadness. Only then did Emily realize how much she had neglected him.

She remembered her dad’s words: “You’re his only friend. Don’t forget him.” Overwhelmed with guilt, tears streamed down her face as she whispered, “I’m so sorry, Marshmallow. I’ve been a terrible friend. Please get better. I’ll never ignore you again.”

For the next week, Emily devoted all her time to Marshmallow. They went on walks, played games, and even snuggled together at night. Slowly, Marshmallow’s eyes regained their sparkle, and he seemed happier than ever.

The day of the surgery arrived. Emily sat nervously outside the operating room, her hands clasped tightly as she whispered a prayer: “Please, Marshmallow, you have to make it. I’ll never leave you alone again.”

Time dragged on endlessly. Finally, the door opened, and the vet stepped out with a smile. “The surgery was a success,” he announced.

Emily ran to Marshmallow and hugged him tightly, her tears falling freely. “I’ll never take you for granted again,” she promised.

From that day on, Emily made sure Marshmallow was always part of her life. She introduced him to her school friends, and they all played together. Emily and Marshmallow’s bond grew even stronger, and Marshmallow was never lonely again