They had been inseparable since day one. Sofia found Gerda — a tiny German Shepherd puppy — by the roadside in the rain when she was just eighteen. Seven years have passed since then. Gerda grew into a smart, kind, and incredibly loyal dog who accompanied Sofia everywhere: in joy, in sorrow, at exams, during moves, and even on the day she met her future fiancé.
And then came the wedding day. Sofia in a white lace dress with a long train, a light tiara on her head, and dozens of guests behind her.
Beside her — Gerda. Her faithful companion. The dog even “participated” in the ceremony — adorned with a light white bow and supposed to simply walk with the bride down the aisle.
But at that exact moment, something happened that shook everyone.
When the music started and Sofia took her first step, Gerda suddenly growled. She stood in front of her, not letting her move forward.
She barked, tugged at the hem of the dress with her teeth, scratched with her paws. There were dirt marks on the white dress — but Gerda wouldn’t stop.
Confused, Sofia bent down to calm her friend. She stroked her head and whispered:
— Calm down, girl, everything’s okay…
Gerda’s front paw was bent unnaturally, and with every movement, the dog was holding back pain. Shock. Anxiety.
This wasn’t there in the morning. Gerda was perfectly healthy. They had walked together right before leaving. How did this happen?
Sofia abruptly turned to the guests:
— Did anyone see what happened to Gerda?
Silence. Then a quiet voice from behind:
— I… I saw. She ran up to your fiancé, and he… kicked her. Hard.
Sofia froze. The fiancé went pale, tried to say something but didn’t get the chance.
At that moment, she understood everything. Small details came back to her: how Gerda never approached him, how she avoided him. How he got angry when the dog lay between them on the couch. But she had never paid attention.
Now everything was clear.
Sofia lifted her head. Loudly, firmly, holding back a tremble in her voice, she said:
— There will be no wedding.
Deafening silence. The guests couldn’t believe their ears. And she was already holding Gerda in her arms, despite the white dress being dirty and torn.
—I’m taking her to the vet.
She walked away without looking back. At first, everyone stood still. Then they started applauding. Admiring her strength. Her choice. Her love.
