Darlene and Steve Sr. were distraught when their son perished in a motorcycle accident. Steve was their only kid and the center of their universe. Darlene couldn’t stop sobbing on the day of Steve’s funeral.

Steve Sr. consoled her as best he could, but they forgot about one member of the family who was also bereaved—Pickles, Steve’s dog and best buddy.

It’s unclear how Pickles knew Steve was dead. He had been attending college in Massachusetts for a year when the deadly tragedy occurred.

Pickles, on the other hand, was aware. On the day of the burial, he stood nervously at the door, pitifully whimpering. Darlene notified Steve Sr. “Don’t allow him out of the yard, honey.” “He’s behaving strangely.”

“I won’t,” said Steve Sr. “We don’t need Pickles being run over to add to the day’s sadness.”

Beyond loss and sadness, there will come a day when we will be reunited with our loved ones.
Pickles, Steve’s 10-year-old rescue dog, was nine years old. Darlene and Steve Sr. have resisted his repeated requests for a pet.

Was Steve ready for the responsibilities of owning a pet? They had finally given in and promised Steve a dog from a nearby breeder.

“Buy?” Steve had been shocked. “You don’t BUY a friend!” You locate him and identify each other. “You just know he’ll be a friend for life!”

As a result, Darlene and Steve Sr. took Steve to an animal shelter. Before “finding” Pickles, Steve had seen practically every animal in the facility. He’d gone to his knees after one look at the dog.

Darlene and Steve Sr. had stood there in awe as their kid crouched nose-to-nose with the dog, whose tail was wagging wildly. “He’s the one,” Steve had said with a grin. “I tracked him down!”

Steve and Pickles were inseparable from then on. Pickles followed Steve everywhere he went. Of course, Steve had human pals, but Pickles was his steady and devoted companion.

“Can he roll over?” one of Steve’s aunts inquired. “My dog can perform so many tricks!”

“Pickles is a friend of mine,” Steve said. “I’m not going to embarrass him by asking him to perform stunts.” “Do you request that your pals turn over and play dead?”

The mother was outraged and told Darlene, “Your son is strange, and that mutt is even stranger.” If I were you, I’d get rid of him!”

“So I’m glad I’m not you,” Darlene explained to her sister. “Pickles is better company than most people I know!”

Darlene expected Steve’s bond with Pickles to wane as he grew older. It did not occur. Pickles stayed on Steve’s bed even after he left for college, both while he was gone and when he returned.

Now that Steve had gone, Pickles had a feeling he wouldn’t be back. Darlene kneeled and softly touched Pickles’ silky ears. “Sad boy, I wish you could comprehend what I’m saying,” she sighed. “Our lovely Steve has left…”

Darlene buried her face in Pickles’ fur and let the tears she’d been holding back fall. “Come on, honey,” Steve Sr. kindly murmured. “It’s time to leave.”

Friends and relatives came over to the house after the funeral to console Darlene and Steve Sr., but someone must have left the gate open, and Pickles fled.

Darlene didn’t think much of it when he returned the next morning. Pickles now sat by the gate, his head on his paws, staring wistfully out at the street.

He only took breaks from his vigil to eat. He’d even given up sleeping in Steve’s bed. Pickles escaped again a few days later, but he was recaptured by late afternoon.

He was gone again the next day. Darlene was concerned. Pickles had never escaped while Steve was still alive. What might he be up to? “As long as he keeps returning,” Steve Sr. reasoned. “I wouldn’t be too concerned.”

Darlene was concerned, and when Pickles went missing again on a Sunday, she was determined to find him. She decided to lay flowers on Steve’s grave before searching for Pickles at Steve’s old haunts.

She was in for a surprise. Pickles was sleeping on Steve’s grave, eyes closed, when she arrived at the cemetery. “Pickles,” Darlene said. “How…”

Darlene kneeled on her son’s grave and gently stroked the dog’s head. Pickles gazed up at her, then closed his eyes and whined softly. “I miss him, too, buddy,” Darlene said quietly.

“Ma’am?” Darlene heard a voice say something behind her. When she turned around, she was met by a tall, middle-aged man with a kind expression. “Are you the owner of this dog?”

Darlene remembered Steve’s remarks regarding ownership and said, “I’m his buddy.”

“This dog has been coming to this cemetery, and I’ve brought him back three times,” the guy explained. “He simply keeps showing up.”

“This…” Darlene’s eyes welled up with tears. “My son’s dog’s name was Pickles.” This is his last resting place. “It’s a wonder how he knew where to look for him.”

“I assume this is where he wants to be,” the man added. “Near his pal.”

“But he can’t, can he?” Darlene worriedly said. “I despise dragging him home on a leash.”

“Please allow me to speak with the director,” the man said. “He, too, is a dog lover.”

The cemetery guard approached the director, who agreed to allow Darlene to place a tiny dog house next to Steve’s grave to provide refuge for Pickles. Darlene or Steve Sr. would come every day to feed the dog.

Darlene sometimes found herself conversing, talking to Pickles as if he understood, reminiscing about Steve, and sometimes even laughing at the joyful memories when she visited Steve’s grave.

Pickles was a small part of Steve that she could still feel and see, and that soothed her. Darlene visited the cemetery three years after Steve died, but Pickles did not welcome her.

He was resting on Steve’s grave, as he had done before, but he wasn’t sleeping. Pickles had vanished. Her final physical link to Steve had vanished.

Darlene stroked the faithful animal’s head one last time, and tears streamed down her cheeks. Pickles, you’re with Steve now, aren’t you? “That’s what you’ve been looking forward to all along.”

“I’m envious of you! Inform him… Tell him how much I adore and miss him. Inform him that I’m looking forward to seeing him again. Darlene kissed Pickle on the cheek one final time.

As a result, dogs are capable of profound, unconditional love. Pickles adored Steve and would not be apart from him even in death. One day, we will be reunited with the people we love. Beyond loss and sadness, there will come a day when we will be reunited with our loved ones.