On his 10th birthday, Max sat quietly at the table, a single candle flickering on a small cake before him. His soft brown eyes held a touch of sadness, reflecting the loneliness he felt deep within. Max was a loyal  dog, a gentle soul who had been with his family for many years, always by their side. But today, as he celebrated his milestone birthday, not many people remembered to celebrate with him.

He looked around, hoping to see familiar faces, expecting someone to walk through the door with warm hugs and kind words. But the room was still. The day had come and gone with little fanfare, and Max couldn’t understand why. He wondered if he had done something wrong or if he was no longer important.

Max’s heart ached with a simple wish – for more people to care, to show him the love he so freely gave every day. He had spent his life comforting his family, being their constant companion, yet here he was, feeling alone on his special day. With a soft sigh, he closed his eyes, making a wish that someone would remember him, not just today but every day.

As the night wore on, Max stayed by his cake, his ears perking up at every sound, hoping it would be someone coming to wish him. While his birthday passed quietly, his heart held a glimmer of hope. Max knew that even though not everyone remembered today, he would continue being the loyal, loving dog he had always been, waiting patiently for the day when his love would be returned tenfold.