STEPHANIE

I look at the little shaggy creature as he happily explores Nicole's and my apartment, little to say I fell in love with it at first sight. That little yellow Labrador was the fulfillment of all my childhood dreams and I still can’t believe she’s just mine. Leo definitely surpassed himself with these gifts, because the moment she awkwardly walked up to me with a big red bow around her neck, she won me over completely.

The puppy approached me and left a tennis ball in front of me, eager for attention and ready to play. I threw her that ball, and she joyfully ran for it, and then she handed it to me again.

Of course Leo had to think about everything and gave me an already trained puppy that was from the best litter he could find. Her pedigree was completely irrelevant to me, and if he had given me the first wanderer he came across, I would have loved her with the same strength.

"According to her pedigree, she got the name Astra, if you want you can change it," I recalled Leo's words, but this name suited her perfectly.

Astra in Latin means star, and for me she represents my star who will always be there to give me that immeasurable and pure love that only dogs can give.

I took the puppy and placed her in my lap, caressing her light hair, and she fell asleep shortly afterwards.

“Stephanie, I’m home!” I heard the door open and my sister’s voice.

Astra woke up and ran curiously towards the source of voice still unknown to her. Nicole was still shaken by the previous situation and I couldn't blame her for that. Fatigue and worry were clearly visible on her beautiful face.

"Stephanie!!!" Nicole screamed, and the scared puppy hid behind me.

"What is this shaggy creature, that litter of microorganisms, doing in our apartment?!"

Her fatigue was instantly replaced by anger. I seem to have forgotten how much Nicole despises animals, that is, the responsibility they bring with them, and besides, her medical phobias about the various diseases that animals can cause according to her will never be clear to me. So much for my plan to prepare her for what will follow...

“That shaggy creature, as you called her, is an Astra and she’s my dog ​​from now on,” I explained to her, stroking the frightened puppy.

"You definitely decided to send me to psychiatry today..." She shot me a look, "Where did it come from now?!"

“Leo gave it to me for my birthday,” I told her proudly.

Nicole always reacts abruptly and hastily, but I believe that in a while she will get used to it herself, because I have no plans to give it up. My life's wish was to have a Labrador, and I will definitely not allow Nicole to deprive me off this happiness.

"I'll kill him. This time Maximillian won't save him either!" She exclaimed angrily.

She angrily walked over to us and sat down on the corner set massaging her temples, for a moment I thought she was going to get sick, because truth be told, today was more than stressful for her.

The moment I saw her in the hospital crying and lost. I broke to pieces, because it was I who caused her to be in such a state. I can't even imagine what she went through, because all this caused her post-traumatic stress disorder. Nicole, who was always strong, shook in front of me and hugged me with all her strength.

If there was one thing I hated in my life, it was that I saw her hurt, yet she is my older sister. I was indescribably angry with myself for being the cause of her worries again, because if I had listened to her and checked my personal belongings, I would have noticed that I had forgotten my phone and all that would not have happened.

"Nicole, are you okay?" I got up from the carpet anxiously, afraid she might faint.

I grabbed her around the waist, holding her, and then helped her sit up. I headed to the kitchen to get her a glass of water, but another of her shouts stopped me.

"Are those dog hairs on my precious set?!"

"Come on, don't overdo it, I'll clean them," I shrugged and instead of going to the kitchen, I headed to the bathroom for a brush, and the Astra followed in my footsteps.

It seems that she doesn't care, because if she was really so sick, she wouldn't worry about a few hairs on the furniture...

"Don't worry about anything, I won't let anyone separate us," I stroked Astra between her ears and I can swear that this little creature smiled at me.

I took the brush and went back to the living room to tidy up, and Nicole's appearance just exuded rage. She looked at me dully, her leg shaking, which only happened to her when she was really angry. I swear I thought for a moment she was going to drown me...

"Stephanie, we have to get rid of her, do you know how much disease can be obtained from an animal?"

"A heart attack can happen to me even though I'm a doctor, but I don't look at life as black as you do. You know that my life's wish was to have a dog and that I always just told you about it, but you always found some excuse. "

"Let's give her away. Get another dog after residency and dedicate yourself to it, now you can get an aquarium with fish..." She was persistent.

"Then you'll tell me the dog is harmful to the child, I'll probably wish I had, Nicole, either Astra will live with us or the two of us will move out of here," I made it clear to her that I was ready to leave.

"And where would that young lady go?" She got up and crossed her arms over her chest, "As far as I know, the salary of a trainee is too small to provide you with an apartment, food, a car and expensive dresses you usually wear."

"Don't worry about me, I'd make it."

"I'm just wondering, how? Maybe you would agree to have that blonde support you and humiliate yourself in that way all your life?"

"You know what?" This time I replied angrily, "Maybe I would."

"This is all that Leo came up with, I'll drink his blood as soon as I see him ..."

I took the frightened Astra in my arms and headed to my room, and Nicole followed in my footsteps, still convincing me that we should give this puppy away. As soon as I stepped into the room, I closed the door in front of her nose and slammed it much harder than was needed, then locked it.

"Open the door..!"

“I won't!” I shouted childishly and heard her sigh deeply.

To some extent, I could understand her worries, having a dog is a huge responsibility and obligation, but one look at that little creature was enough to accept it all without thinking. In addition, Leo made sure to give me an already trained dog, which made all this much easier.

"Stephanie, let's talk like grown people, this way we won't solve the new problem," she dropped the ball.

"You acted like a spoiled child first," I said, still ignoring her, "Astra stays with me and that's the end of the story."

"Then, we have to talk about the obligations that go with it."

I gave up the discussion and opened the door for her, because I saw that she would soon give in. I put the puppy down and happily stroked her because no one can separate us.

"Let me somehow put aside the possibility of infection from microsporosis, toxocariasis, scabies and rabies, but how do you think you take care of it when you work for fifteen hours?" She asked me.

"That dog needs your attention and physical activity, because it's in the apartment and can't have too much room to play..."

"We'll manage. Leo can take care of her from time to time, and I'm sure Magda will want to help as well."

"Stephanie, no one else can take care of your dog..."

"But I will not give it up, do not take away  what was taken away from me as a child!"

I felt a tear run down my cheeks as I begged my sister to give in. It didn’t matter to me how selfish and immature I was now, but I needed her.

"For God's sake, Stephanie, don't cry because of a stupid dog..."

Nicole relented when she saw my tears, but still did not completely agree with the possibility of having a dog in the apartment. I promised myself that I would try not to ask for anyone's help regarding this little creature unless it was really necessary, because I wanted to show my older sister that I could very well be a good owner in addition to my job.

"So she can stay?"

"Just make sure I don't look at her hair on my furniture and I want the vet's signature that she's not a litter of microorganisms..."

She started to enumerate my conditions, but the next moment I interrupted her and jumped into her arms, to which she only smiled slightly.

"Thank you!" I exclaimed childishly, overjoyed at her consent.

"Come on, pet her, isn't she just adorable?" I looked at Nicole.

"You will come to my head with your wishes, as far as you know..."

I lifted Astra into my arms and she happily wagged her tail as I approached Nicole, but my sister stepped away.

"Don't overdo it, Stephanie, I'm going to need time to digest this too."

"I want to hear from you now what Leo and you did while I was dying of worry, do you know how much I cut myself off from losing you too?"

I felt a rush of guilt in myself, because while she was lying unconscious in the hospital, Leo and I enjoyed the weekend with Astra...

"Nicole..."

"Don't "Nicole" me, Stephanie. Give me a good reason not to kill that Anders the next time I see him, because believe me, my nerves are running out."

By the very memory of those few hours, a wide smile appeared on my face, because in such a short time, Leo made me feel like the most desirable and loved person in the world.

"Leo, you're crazy, write down the date when I sat in the car with you, because it doesn't occur to me to ride with you again!", I shouted at him when I got out of the car and slammed the door.

"Don't exaggerate, you saw that I was a great driver..." He tried to defend himself and smiled proudly at me, but I immediately interrupted him.

"You're a great driver?!", I attacked him, because it was all over my head, "You almost killed us with your ride, we almost fell under the truck!"

"Stephanie..."

"Don't "Stephanie" me. You know how much I begged you to slow down, but you kept adding gas!"

I don't even know when I started crying, but I felt warm tears on my cheeks. My feelings were mixed, and anger and fear prevailed.

"Leo, don't be selfish and think a little of others! It only takes a split second to leave this world forever, and imagine what that would you do to Max, your parents, me..."

I broke down, because I, myself, was still afraid of fast and careless driving. Nicole had an irrational phobia due to the accident, and I didn't go without consequences either.

"I'm sorry, Stephanie, I didn't know that all this would hurt you so much..." He approached me and hugged me tightly.

"It hurt me, Leo, and much more than you can imagine, and most of all it hurt me that you don't value your life in the least!" I slapped him on the chest.

I stepped away from him and saw sadness and remorse on his face, but even that did not calm my emotions. He tried to hug me one more time, but I pushed him away from me.

"Stephanie, it wasn't my goal to make you sad. I wanted to spend this weekend carefree and I definitely didn't want this..."

"And what do you think I wanted?!" I shouted at him again, "Do you really think I wanted to pray all the time that we get to the cottage in one piece?!"

"Stephanie..."

"Today, you acted like a spoiled rich brat eager to prove yourself, and believe me it's not a compliment!"

"I promise to be more careful from now on and try to respect the limits..."

"I'll need a lot more than your empty promises and continue this rampage as soon as you're without me! Grow up and start acting like a responsible person!"

"Oh my God, it's like I am listening to Nicole..." he said to himself, but I still heard him.

"What did you say?!"

"Nothing..."

I angrily walked over to him and opened the cottage door. At this point, I just wanted to be as far away from him as possible and calm down. But the next moment, an irresistible puppy ran up to me with a red satin bow that was almost bigger than that.

“Leo, whose dog is this?” I took the puppy and turned to him.

The mere presence of this little creature calmed me indescribably and made me happy. It reminded me of my eternal desire to have a pet. I stroked the adorable Labrador and stared into his brown eyes that seemed to glow.

"Happy birthday, Stephanie," I saw that he was embarrassed, and then I gave him one questioning look.

"It shouldn't have turned out like this, we shouldn't have quarreled on arrival, but that in your arms is your gift..."

"Just don't tell me you're kidding."

“Why would I joke?” He looked at me confused.

I put the puppy down and flew into his arms. I never talked to him about my wishes, but he just fulfilled the biggest one. I kissed him passionately, letting him know that I had just forgiven him everything.