As I sit here, watching the world around me, a thought circles in my mind that I can’t seem to shake: *Do you think I look ugly?*
I often see people passing by, glancing at me briefly before turning their heads away, sometimes with a frown or a sympathetic look. I catch my reflection in the puddles on the ground—my fur, once full and shiny, now looks scruffy and dull. My eyes, once bright and filled with curiosity, look tired and sad. I wasn’t always like this. I once had a soft, warm bed and gentle hands that would pet me and make me feel loved. I had a name that someone would call with a smile, and I would come running. But now, those days seem like a distant memory, almost as if they happened to another dog entirely.
Sometimes, I wonder if it’s because I’m no longer the young, playful pup I once was. Maybe my face, with a few scars and the signs of wear, doesn’t invite people’s affection anymore. Other dogs on the street, especially the younger ones, seem to draw people in easily. They have that energy, that brightness, that playful sparkle that makes people smile. But me? I sit quietly, hoping someone might look beyond my appearance and see me for who I am inside.
*Do you think I look ugly?* The question weighs heavily, but even as I ask it, I hope that it’s not true. I may look a little rough around the edges, but I still have a heart that longs for love, a spirit that wants to belong. Every day, I dream that someone might see past the dirt on my coat or the weariness in my eyes and understand that beneath it all, I’m still just a dog who wants to love and be loved. I want to feel someone’s touch, hear kind words, and believe that I’m still worthy of a little warmth.
Even though I may not look perfect, I wonder if there’s someone out there who could love me just as I am. Because, despite everything, I know that I would give all the love I have left to someone who could look beyond the surface and simply see me. So, even if my fur is scruffy and my face is worn, maybe there’s still a chance that someone will see my heart, and maybe that’s enough.
