Chapter 4

It was a friendship that turned into a stronger feeling with passing years. David's genuine fondness for Amelia blossomed into an unfading flower of love. As a child he would come every evening for playing football or cricket with the boys in her neighborhood. Amelia would often sit there and read books. He had noticed her since then. He had started going to the fields not just to play but to see Amelia too.

One afternoon she was chased by a stray dog. She ran as fast as she could to prevent her frail and tiny body from its grasp. She was only ten years old at that time. Running and stumbling over the narrow path amid the golden fields of wheat stalks she tried to keep distance, but the dog was reluctant to give up on her. He ran faster. Her heart hammered forcefully to knock itself out of her chest. But she too wouldn't stop. Although, exhaustion coerced her to stop and face the consequences but the next moment her horror would instigate her to run faster. Her legs felt heavy and cramped and her throat was dry which felt like thorns stuck in her soft palate. The normally accessible home seemed miles away. She was desperate to reach but the more she ran the less it seemed approachable.

When her home appeared in the distance, she widened her pace to a clumsier stride and with her excitement she overlooked the rock that was there in the way. To her astonishment she hit the ground with a heavy thud and banged her ribs with such force that left her almost unconscious. She gasped for air but her ribs felt like penetrating lungs making it difficult for her to breath. Despite pain and agony she still remembered why ribs were called the protective cage for lungs from her science subject. If there were no ribs, she would have been left with deflated lungs instantly.

She was utterly worn out of the courage to turn around and see if the dog would attack her, she merely waited. But instead of attack, she heard him whimpering as if it was in pain. When she got up again to run away from her attacker, she was surprised to see a young boy who had held the dog by the ears and was trying to stop it. David she thought. The poor animal was trying to release itself from the boy's grasp but couldn't. "You never run when you see a dog." He shouted to Amelia amid the dog's fearful yelps. She though wasn't sure of the situation stopped there to see what would happen next. "Dogs don't like people who make them chase themselves." For a young boy it was brave enough to calm an angry dog whose prey was only few steps away. She stood there undecidedly whether to run away or stay back with her rescuer. However, she was relieved.

The boy sensed the dog's waning anger and helpless whimpers so he let him go gradually. The animal without considering any second chance of attack on his prey felt it suitable to run away as fast as it could. Amelia was shocked and impressed. She was calmed too when she saw the dog leaving her. It was only then that she realized the pain in her ribs and legs. She sat down to pull her foot out from the shoe that felt wet and hurt. Her toenail was broken by stumbling on the rock and it was bleeding.

David came closer to her; pulled out a hanky from his pocket and helped her cover the wound to stop it from bleeding. "Never run when you see a dog," he said looking down at her feet. "Exactly! And good job young boy. You have been very brave," a man nearby exclaimed while approaching them. He must have heard the noise during his work at the field. "They chase you only when they feel insecure about their safety. They are friendly and loving but also curious creatures," he said with a smile. "When you stop and look into their eyes, they cease expecting harm from you. They like fearless yet harmless people. They can smell fear like everything else." Amelia was impressed by his knowledge of dogs. "But if they can smell fear then why do they attack you? They must know that you are harmless because you are fearing them." The man laughed by her brief assessment. "Yes, but it is not the fear due to which they chase you.They expect assault when they smell fear in you. So, before you could do something to ward them off they do it in advance. Amelia nodded to his logic and David was happy to have arrived at the correct time. The man put his hands on David's shoulder and patted his back. You have shown a great deal of bravery. She could have been attacked and torn to pieces if you didn't come early. David's moment of pride elevated with Amelia's wide smile who suddenly stopped and looked at him with grateful eyes.