I feel no shame that I enjoy the company of my dog more than my friends, and neither should you.
It’s the middle of October, and first-semester jitters have worn off. I no longer care about what I look like for my 8 a.m. classes. At least, that’s what I like to tell myself.
I live through the same routine every day. I get out of bed. I spend 10 minutes staring anxiously at my closet. Wondering what to wear, I almost pulled out my skinny jeans that I’ve had since high school. Then, I remembered that society has deemed them uncool. Reluctantly, I put on a crewneck and flared leggings; it’s boring but acceptable in the eyes of my peers.
I brush my hair into a slick back ponytail, anticipating the inevitable headache that comes with such a hairstyle. I go to class feeling extremely conflicted. I am both extremely uncomfortable in my own skin, yet comforted knowing I won’t be judged. Is it really worth the pain?
I walk into the classroom and look around. All the girls are wearing the same outfit as me. I breathe a sigh of relief. I’m not any different from the people sitting next to me, thank God!
After a day of finance and accounting, I all but run home. I walk into my apartment and am greeted by my sweet black pug, Tiki, sitting at the door waiting for me. She jumps at the sight of me. She lets me pet her. She lets me pick her up. She looks at me with a love so pure that not even the poetry of Emily Dickinson could capture its depth.
I change into my comfy clothes, and the look in Tiki’s eyes doesn’t waver. She would love me even if I was wearing my skinny jeans. Tiki is the greatest gift I have ever received. After months of begging, my parents finally caved in and gave her to me for my 16th birthday.
She convinced me that all teenagers should have a dog. I was everything to her, and the feeling didn’t take long to become mutual. I am 22 years old now, and I still look to Tiki for comfort. Nobody can come between a girl and her dog, especially not Tiki and I.
As a girl who grew up in the 21st century, judgment is a part of my past, present, and future. It is an unfortunate piece of the circle of life. Some people can deal with it, and some can’t. While I wish I fell into the former category, like many others, I resonate with the latter.
I wish I could wear what I wanted without feeling the burn of people’s stares. The only place that I have never felt the wrath of others’ opinions is in the comfort of my dog.
While the vast majority consider humans the superior species, I wholeheartedly disagree. A dog’s love is unlike any other, and it cannot be replicated by a person. I long for a world where human love mirrors the unwavering devotion that dogs bestow upon their owners that is free from any judgment and prejudice.