The family knelt down. They didn’t rush. They didn’t call him. They simply waited, giving him the choice. After a long moment, he rose. His legs were stiff from years of stillness, but he moved toward them.
The adoption papers were signed. The shelter gate swung open.
He paused briefly, glancing back. Those same eyes—once so sad—now shimmered with tears, trust, and something almost human: gratitude. It was as if he whispered, “Thank you for not giving up on me.”
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