But one afternoon, while brushing a new rescue — a small female shepherd named Luna — a guard entered. “You’ve got a visitor.”

Ethan turned — and froze. It was Luke.

He looked older somehow, tired but calm. In his hand was a framed photo — Rex sitting proudly with his head tilted, tongue out.

Luke handed it to him. “I figured he’d want you to have this.”

Ethan swallowed hard. “Why me?”

“Because he saw something in you I couldn’t,” Luke said quietly. “Until now.”

They stood there in silence. Two men, both changed by one dog’s courage.