His last wish, before the final sentence was pronounced—which would mark the end of his life—was to see his German Shepherd. The prisoner had accepted his fate with quiet resignation.

For twelve years, day after day, he woke up in the cold cell B-17. He had been accused of taking a man’s life, and although he swore he was innocent, no one listened. At first, he fought, wrote complaints, contacted lawyers, but over time he simply stopped fighting and waited for his sentence.

The only thing that mattered to him all those years was his dog. He had no other family. The German Shepherd was not just a pet: it was his family, his friend, the only being he trusted. The prisoner had found it as a puppy, trembling in an alley, and from that day they were inseparable.

When the warden brought the paper, asking for his last wish, the man did not ask for gourmet food, cigarettes, or a priest, as many do. He quietly said:

— I want to see my dog. One last time.

At first, the staff received it with disbelief. Could this be some clever plan? But on the appointed day, before the sentence, he was brought to the yard. Under the watchful eyes of the guards, he met his dog.

Seeing its owner, the shepherd broke free from the leash and rushed to him. At that moment, time seemed to stop.

But what happened next astonished everyone. The prison guards stood frozen, not knowing what to do

The dog tore free from the police officer’s hands and ran to its owner with a force as if trying to make up for twelve years of separation in a single moment.

It leapt into his arms, knocking him down, and the prisoner, for the first time in many years, felt neither the cold nor the weight of the chains. Only warmth.

He hugged the dog tightly, burying his face in its thick fur. The tears he had denied himself all those years flowed freely.

He cried loudly, without shame, like a child, while the dog whimpered softly, as if it too understood that their time was short.

— You are my girl… my faithful one… — he whispered, holding her tighter. — What will you do without me?..

His hands trembled as he stroked her back again and again, as if trying to remember every detail. The dog looked at him with devoted eyes.

— Forgive me… for leaving you alone, — his voice broke, becoming hoarse. — I couldn’t prove the truth… but at least I was always needed by you.

The guards stood motionless; many looked away. Even the harshest could not remain indifferent: before them was not a criminal, but a man who, in the last moments of his life, held the only thing left from his world.

He raised his eyes to the warden and said in a broken voice:

— Take care of her…

He asked the warden to take her home, promising that he would not resist and would accept the sentence.

At that moment, the silence became unbearable. The dog barked again, sharply and loudly, as if protesting what was about to happen.

And the prisoner hugged her one last time, holding her as close as a person can when saying goodbye forever.