On September 17th, 2019, my dad took me and my brother to get groceries. Once we had gotten back into the car, dad told us to wait. I assumed maybe a tire had blown or something, so I read aloud stories from my phone to my brother to pass the time. A car pulled up beside us after some time. I thought this to be at least a bit strange, as the parking lot was empty except for dad’s car and a truck in the corner. Dad got out and headed towards the trunk, mirroring the man in the car next to us. I got a little scared then, thinking it could’ve been something dangerous that I didn’t want to think about happening. I looked back, peering through the window, and saw my dad giving money to the man. I was more than a little frightened at this point and told Alex to be alert. My dad waved bye to the man and started walking back with an open box in his arms. Unnerved but curious, I peered in the box and two little brown eyes looked back at me. We named the little puppy Mocha. Though my dad was her main caretaker, she always stuck with me. She would snuggle with me at night and wait for me to get up in the morning. Every time we went to the park, she would waddle after me, stumbling every few steps until she learned to walk properly. We raised her. On September 14th, 2020, my dad’s ex-girlfriend stole her. We called the police and anyone who could help until we finally got her to respond, telling us she had given Mocha to her neighbor. A week had passed. We knocked on the neighbor’s door and a little 8 year old boy answered. I knew then that I couldn’t take her back. I loved that dog, she had supported me, and I knew how it would feel to have her taken away. All throughout the conversation with the neighor, the 8 year old, River, was playing with Mocha. He loved her. It only really takes a day to get attached to a dog like that. I realized then what I had decided earlier-- I could not take Mocha back. With a hug, my best wishes, and a goodbye, I left Mocha there. I doubt she remembers me by now, but I’ll always remember that she would follow me in the park and not my dad, brother, or sister. She chose me and I left her. I cried the entire way home. I remember thinking, as I drifted off to sleep that night, Goodbye, Mocha.