By daily 
Rusty lay on the cold, hard ground, his once-bright eyes clouded with sadness. Today was his birthday, but there were no joyful barks or playful games to mark the occasion. He was alone, as he had been for months, ever since he was left behind. The sky seemed to echo his feelings, grey and heavy, as though the world knew that Rusty was waiting for something that never came.
He had hoped, just this once, someone would notice him. A gentle voice to say, “Happy birthday, Rusty.” A kind hand to offer a pat or a treat. But as the hours passed and the day grew darker, no one came. Rusty’s whimpers turned into soft, mournful cries, his tears dampening the fur around his face.
Curled up tightly, Rusty closed his eyes and let out a quiet sigh. Even though his heart was heavy, he held on to a sliver of hope that maybe, just maybe, his next birthday would be different—that he would finally have someone to share it with.