bye bye, dog friend. rest in peace.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7wJ-VPqFzy0

I woke up early in the morning to prepare for my second break. I changed into my army uniform, put on my shiny army boots and off I went - to home. I felt so light as soon as I exited the main entrance, I guess it was the sense of freedom that rushed through my blood.

I headed towards the bus terminal to get a ticket heading for Seoul. As I was snaking through the small streets of Hwa-Cheon county, I noticed that my dog friend was behind me. He followed me all the way from the base. His tongue was stuck out and his white fur was covered with a bit of mud - I think he was playing in some puddle from the recent rain. He looked into my eyes and I looked into his, I think he could tell how happy I was to go back home.

The dog went ahead of me. Then I began to think that he was actually not following me but was on the way to do something, his own business. To be honest, it was kind of disappointing.

But then, the dog kept turning his head as he paced forward. I think he was checking whether I was still behind, or trying to say something like, "okay, just keep following me." Ofcourse, that's just what I think. I would never know what a dog has on his mind. Anyways, turns out that the dog was guiding me to the bus terminal. He took me to the ticket office and then to the actual bus that goes to Seoul.

He stopped in front of the bus. I gave him a look and waved him goodbye. I went inside the bus and sat down. There he was, still outside next to the bus looking at me through the window. As the bus started its engine and drove towards Seoul the dog began to walk back towards the base.

I wanted to get more close to this dog after I come back from my break. He's been around the base since I came to the army but I never had the chance to play with him. But all of this did not matter anymore. On a rainy Sunday midnight, the dog was hit by a car. I had the unfortunate chance to witness his dead body.

I'm sorry buddy. I never had the chance to say thank you for making me smile, for lighting up my heart. Thank you. Thank you.

Rest in peace, my dog friend.