I love my dog!
by Odell Sneeden Hathaway, III Copyright © 1988 I love my dog — but why would I not? She loves me like no other. She is always there when I need her, like no one else I know (though that may be because I do not let them get that close). She never treats me badly, like all the people I have known. But there is still more. I love my dog for a secret reason — one no one knows — because in my dog I have hidden a treasure, one of great value, one that no one may touch. I have hidden from the world, locked up in my dog. I love my dog because my dog is where I have hidden my love. No one loves me at all! They command me, but no one loves me. It has been so hard that now, even when someone tries to love me, I am scared. I run away — back to my dog, back to the one I love. I love my dog; it makes me strong when I need to be safe. Because I know there is no love for me, I can put my dog somewhere safe — and there I can leave my love locked up, where no one can touch it. No one can hur...