A Sudden Shift on the Sidewalk
A heavy clay pot tipped over the metal balcony railing stories above the concrete.
Red geranium petals tore loose in the wind as the container tumbled downward.
Down below, the man kept his eyes locked on his smartphone screen.
His feet moved along the sidewalk at an unhurried, rhythmic pace.
In his left hand, the red nylon leash hung loose, drifting alongside his trouser leg.
The golden retriever trotted beside him, scanning the street with upright ears.
Soil particles rained down first, striking the gray pavement in tiny black bursts.
Neither the man nor any passing pedestrian noticed the falling specks of dirt.
His thumb scrolled across the bright display, entirely unaware of the path above.
The Rapid Strike
The dog snapped his head upward toward the sky.
His muscles bunched along his shoulders and hind legs as he changed direction.
With a hard thrust off the concrete, the canine threw his entire weight sideways.
His front paws struck the man directly in the midsection with full force.
The impact knocked the man off balance, tearing his shoes from the pavement.
The phone slipped from his fingers and spun across the grass.
Both bodies collided with the manicured turf alongside the building wall.
The man slid across the green blades, his mouth dropping wide open.
A fraction of a second later, the ceramic vessel smashed into the walkway.
Thick red clay shattered into dozen jagged fragments across the concrete slabs.
Clods of dark compost and snapped green stems sprayed across the man’s white sneakers.
Uncovering the Scene
The man remained seated in the lawn, propped up on his palms.
His chest rose and fell rapidly while his eyes locked onto the broken terracotta.
The point of impact was the exact strip of concrete his boots were aimed toward.
He looked from the shards on the walkway to the dog panting beside him.
The retriever sat upright on the lawn, wagging his tail against the turf.
A heavy breath escaped the man’s mouth as he pushed himself upright.
His fingers trembled slightly as he reached out toward the red nylon collar.
He drew his knees up and leaned forward, closing the distance between them.
The dog turned his head and pressed his wet nose against the man’s cheek.
Holding On
The man wrapped both arms around the thick fur of the dog’s neck.
He buried his face into the golden coat, squeezing the retriever tight.
Several neighbors on the sidewalk stopped walking and gathered in a semicircle.
They stood quiet against the backdrop of the tall glass residential tower.
The dog leaned his weight against the man’s chest, resting his chin on his shoulder.
Pieces of broken pottery and crushed red flowers lay undisturbed across the sunlit pavement.
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