Today is my birthday, I was left alone; as a tiny, overlooked dog, I’ve endured days of hunger and loneliness

Today is my birthday. I wish I could say it’s a day filled with joy, treats, and celebration, but the truth is far different. Today, like many other days before it, I’m alone. I’m a tiny, overlooked dog, and the world seems to have forgotten about me. As I sit quietly in the corner of a dusty alley, shivering from both the cold and hunger, I wonder if anyone will ever see me again—really see me, not just glance past as if I’m part of the background.I wasn’t always like this. I can still remember a time when I had a home, a family, and a place where I belonged. The family wasn’t perfect, but they were mine. I was once a beloved companion, small and full of energy, bounding around the house with excitement whenever someone came home. I remember how the little girl used to pick me up, hold me close, and whisper sweet words in my ear. Back then, I thought those moments would last forever.

But life is unpredictable. One day, everything changed. The family moved away, and for reasons I will never understand, they left me behind. Maybe they couldn’t take me with them, or maybe they simply didn’t want to. Either way, I was left to fend for myself in a world that suddenly felt very big, very lonely, and very cold.As the days turned into weeks, the reality of my situation set in. I wandered the streets, hoping to find food, a kind face, or even a sign that my family might come back for me. But as time passed, hope began to fade. The kind looks from strangers were rare, and even rarer were the moments when someone might toss me a scrap of food. Most people barely noticed me at all. I was small and easy to overlook, just a tiny dog lost in the shuffle of busy lives.Hunger became my constant companion. My once soft, well-fed body grew thin and frail. My fur, once shiny and well-groomed, turned dull and tangled. I scavenged through garbage bins, sniffing out any bits of food I could find. Some days, I was lucky enough to find a stale piece of bread or a half-eaten sandwich. Other days, I found nothing, and my stomach would ache with the pain of hunger.

But hunger wasn’t the worst part. The worst part was the loneliness.There is a kind of loneliness that digs deep into your soul, the kind that makes you question your own worth, your own existence. I wondered if anyone cared about me anymore. I used to be part of something, part of a family, but now I was just a tiny, forgotten dog wandering the streets with no one to love me. The streets were loud and chaotic, full of people and noises, but none of it brought comfort. In the middle of all that activity, I felt invisible.Today is no different. It’s my birthday, and while I wish for the warmth of a home and the love of a family, I am greeted by the familiar silence of being overlooked. I wait in the shadows, watching as people pass by, their faces full of purpose, their steps hurried as they move toward their destinations. No one stops to notice the tiny dog sitting quietly by the side of the road, waiting for someone to see him.

I’ve learned not to expect much anymore. I’ve learned that people are busy, that they don’t have time to stop and care for a dog like me. But still, deep down, I hold onto a small flicker of hope. It’s a fragile thing, this hope, but it’s all I have left. I hope that one day, someone will look down and see me. Not just glance past, but really see me—see the small, overlooked dog who has endured days of hunger and nights of lonelinessIn my dreams, I imagine what it would be like to be noticed again. I dream of soft hands stroking my fur, of a warm bed where I can curl up and sleep without fear. I dream of meals that fill my belly, of playful moments in the park, of a life where I am loved once more. In my dreams, I am no longer overlooked. I am no longer hungry, no longer alone.But for now, that dream feels far away. The reality is that I am still sitting here, still waiting, still hoping for a better day. The sun is setting, and the cold evening air wraps around me like a blanket. My stomach growls, reminding me that it’s been too long since my last meal. I curl up into a tight ball, trying to keep warm, and close my eyes.

Even though today is my birthday, it feels like any other day. There’s no cake, no gifts, no celebrations. Just the same hunger, the same loneliness. But as I lie here, I remind myself of the one thing I still have—hope. It’s small, but it’s there. And as long as I have that, I know there’s a chance that things could change.Maybe tomorrow, someone will stop and notice me. Maybe tomorrow, I’ll find a kind heart who will take me in, give me food, and offer the warmth of a home. Maybe tomorrow, I’ll no longer be the tiny, overlooked dog, but a beloved companion once again. I don’t know what the future holds, but I know I have to keep hoping.So tonight, I will sleep with the belief that even though I was left alone on my birthday, I am not forgotten. Somewhere, out there, is a person who will love me, who will see me for who I am—a dog who has endured hunger and loneliness, but who still has so much love to give. And when that day comes, when I am no longer overlooked, I will finally find the joy I’ve been waiting for.