I still remember that day and whenever I picture the moment in my mind, a chill runs down my spine. It started as a normal day. After school, as I was leaving for home, I saw my two friends, Marium and Hurain, standing at some distance.

“Sarah, come over here,” Marium called out.

“What’s the matter?” I asked.

“Today we haven’t got a pile of homework. So, let’s go to the park and stroll for a while before returning home. It will refresh our minds and reduce academic stress. And as you know, it will help lose some weight too,” Hurain teased.

“Maybe… you know, I don’t like to walk very much,” I said in a dissatisfied tone. We all lived near our school and always walked to and from the school together.

“Oh, come on! By looking at the greenery and smelling the fragrance of flowers in every corner, your mood will cheer up and all your tiredness will go away,” Marium said.

“Okay,” I agreed, but not wholeheartedly.

We reached the park in a few minutes. I lingered and sat down on a nearby bench. As I rested, I admired the beauty of the park. I saw different people, some old and some young. I could smell the sweet fragrance of flowers everywhere, just like Marium had said.

Lost in my thoughts, I listened to the chirping of birds, the jolly laughter of children, some people were talking and others snoozing. Suddenly, my thoughts were shattered by the sound of a bark.

“Aaaaargh!” I shrieked.

I was alarmed to see a black, fierce-looking dog standing right beside me, staring at me with enraged eyes. The sight of a dog roaming freely and some other dogs at a distance was enough to send shivers down my spine. There wasn’t even a chain attached to it! It wasn’t safe, let alone ethical.

I became uneasy in this “dogvironment” and hurried towards Marium and Hurain, who were walking and chatting.

“Guys, I’m going home. There are dogs everywhere. I am getting goosebumps,” I said in a single breath.

“You’re just making up excuses for not walking. What’s this nonsense? Inviting you to the park proved futile,” Marium said angrily.

I wheeled around and said nothing because silence is the best answer. As I was about to leave, I saw the same black dog breathing heavily and glaring at us wrathfully.

“Guys… um… guys,” I said, trembling.

“What’s wrong with you now?” Hurain asked.

“A dog… it’s angry… looking at us,” I said, shivering.

“A dog! Run for your lives!” Marium screamed. We all ran as fast as we could.

“What do we do now? If the dog doesn’t stop, we’ll keep running here and there!” Marium said hastily.

Suddenly, I stopped, picked up a rock and hurled it towards the dog. It didn’t hit it, but it made the dog retreat to its owner.

We were all fuming as we went to the dog’s owner and spoke to her about keeping her pet under control and getting a leash for it. She seemed sorry, so without making a scene, we left the park and went home.

The next day, Marium and Hurain apologised for their behaviour towards me. I smiled.

“I think you should have a daily dose of dog chase so that you start some running and become more active,” Marium and Hurain laughed loudly, while I threw a cushion at them, starting a cushion fight.

Published in Dawn, Young World, February 28th, 2026