Today is my special day, and I’m left neglected; this lonely dog has gone without a meal for too many days

Today is supposed to be my special day, but there is no celebration, no joy, no love. Instead, I sit here, alone and forgotten. I’m a dog—a dog who has gone without a meal for far too many days, a dog whose existence seems to have been overlooked by the world. It’s hard to believe that once I had a place to call home, humans who loved me, and a belly full of food. But now, as I lie on the cold ground, all of that feels like a distant memory, a dream that has slipped away.The hunger gnaws at me constantly. I can’t remember the last time I had a decent meal, the last time my bowl was filled with kibble or treats. Every day has become a struggle to survive. I scavenge through garbage bins, hoping to find a scrap of food—something, anything, to quiet the ache in my stomach. But more often than not, I come up empty. The hunger is relentless, and it’s been with me for so long now that I’ve almost forgotten what it feels like to be full.

It wasn’t always like this. I remember a time when I was cared for, when I was fed and loved. I was once a happy dog, living with a family who made me feel like I mattered. I had a soft bed to sleep in, toys to play with, and humans who would stroke my fur and tell me I was a good boy. I never had to worry about food or where I would sleep at night. I was safe, I was loved, and I thought it would last forever.But forever is a long time, and things changed. I don’t know when or why it happened, but one day, the family I loved started to drift away. They became busy with other things—work, school, life—and I became less and less important. The days when they would play with me grew fewer, and the times they would fill my bowl became less frequent. Soon, they stopped coming home as often, and when they did, they barely noticed me. I was there, but I wasn’t really seen.And then, one day, they didn’t come back at all.

I waited. I waited for days, hoping that they would return, that they would remember me. But they didn’t. I was left behind, alone in a world that suddenly felt much bigger and much colder than it ever had before. I didn’t understand it—how could they leave me? I had been loyal, I had loved them, and yet they had left me to fend for myself, without food, without shelter, without love.The first few days were the hardest. I didn’t know where to go or what to do. I wandered the streets, looking for someone—anyone—who might take me in, who might offer me food or a kind word. But people are busy, and most of them didn’t even notice me. They walked past without a second glance, too wrapped up in their own lives to see the lonely dog standing by the side of the road, hoping for some small sign of kindness.As the days turned into weeks, I learned to survive on my own. I found places to hide from the rain, and I learned where to look for food—though it was never enough. My fur, once soft and shiny, became matted and dirty. My body grew thin and weak. I was no longer the vibrant dog I once was. I had become a shadow of myself, a dog that most people wouldn’t even recognize if they had known me before.

Today is my special day, though. At least, it was supposed to be. Today is my birthday—a day that, in another life, might have been filled with joy and celebration. I imagine my old family throwing a party for me, giving me a special meal and a new toy to play with. I imagine them petting me, telling me how much they love me, making me feel like I matter again. But those are just dreams now, fantasies that keep me going in the darkest moments.The reality is much different. Today, like every other day, I am alone. The world moves on around me, but I am left behind, a forgotten dog waiting for someone to remember that I exist. The hunger is worse today—it always seems worse on days like this, when the loneliness feels especially heavy. My stomach growls, but there’s nothing I can do about it. I’ve already searched the bins, but they’re empty. I lie down, trying to ignore the pain, but it’s always there, a constant reminder of how far I’ve fallen.I watch as people pass by, their faces full of life and laughter. They’re celebrating something—maybe someone’s birthday, maybe just the joy of being with friends. I wish, for just a moment, that I could be part of that world again. I wish someone would look down, see me, and offer a hand of kindness. But no one does. I am invisible to them, just another stray dog that no one has time for.

Even though today is my special day, I don’t expect anything anymore. I’ve learned that the world isn’t always kind, that sometimes, no matter how much you hope, things don’t turn out the way you want them to. But still, deep down, I can’t help but hold onto a small flicker of hope. Maybe tomorrow will be different. Maybe tomorrow, someone will see me and realize that I’m not just a neglected, hungry dog. Maybe tomorrow, someone will offer me love.Until then, I will wait. I will keep going, even though it’s hard, even though the hunger and loneliness feel like they might swallow me whole. Because even though I’ve been forgotten, even though no one has wished me well on my special day, I still believe that there is kindness out there, somewhere. And maybe, just maybe, it will find me before it’s too late.