I almost skipped the morning walk.
Work had been overwhelming, my inbox was a disaster, and I hadn’t even had my first cup of coffee. But Waffles, my little ball of energy, gave me that look—tail wagging, leash clenched in his teeth, ready to report me to HR if I didn’t take him out immediately.
So, off we went.
Just a few steps down the street, we spotted the mail truck. And that’s when Waffles absolutely lost it—not in a barking way, but like he’d just spotted a celebrity. He bolted straight toward the mailman with the kind of joy usually reserved for old friends or bacon. I panicked, trying to pull him back, but by the time I caught up, he was on his hind legs, showering the guy’s face with kisses.
I started apologizing like crazy, rambling about how he normally has a thing against guys in uniforms.
But the man just laughed and gently nudged Waffles back to the ground. His demeanor was calm, his eyes kind—a total contrast to my frazzled morning vibe.
“No worries,” he said with a chuckle, while Waffles wagged his tail like a propeller. “I’ve had worse welcomes. He’s just got a lot of love to give, huh?”
I nodded, trying to catch my breath. “Yeah, he can be… a little extra.”
He gave me a warm smile. “I’m Adam, by the way. I’ve seen you and your pup around the neighborhood, but I guess this is our official introduction.”
He was right—I had seen him making his deliveries before but never paid him much attention. He was just part of the background blur of my routine.
“I’m Sarah,” I said, still slightly flustered. “And this little troublemaker is Waffles.”
“Nice to finally meet you both,” he said, giving Waffles a friendly scratch behind the ears. “Seems like someone’s decided I’m okay.”
I couldn’t help but laugh, despite my stress. “Looks like it. He’s usually not this friendly.”
Adam tilted his head slightly, smiling. “Maybe he knows something we don’t. Dogs are good at that.”
I didn’t quite know how to respond, so I just smiled back, feeling a flicker of something—curiosity, maybe. Adam didn’t feel like a stranger anymore. There was something grounded and calming about him, like maybe this chaotic morning walk had led me exactly where I was supposed to be.
“Well,” I said, “if Waffles approves, I guess that means something.”
We chatted a little longer about the weather, Waffles’ wild energy, and how Adam liked his mail route. It wasn’t a deep conversation, but it felt easy. Genuine. And for the first time that day, everything felt… right.
