I work at the police department. Sometimes it’s very hard to catch criminals and solve crimes. But I have the best partner I could wish for. We spend a lot of time together and work as a perfectly balanced team.
Over the years we have become best friends. We understand each other. We eat together and have fun together. My partner loves telling me jokes every day – and I never hear the same joke twice.
He’s a great guy and an amazing friend. I am happy that we found each other in this line of work.
And we are proud to have each other when it comes to danger. We keep each other safe.
He says I am very brave. But he is humble and will never say that he’s a hero too.
He was shot a couple of times and returned to his duty. He was beaten and injured many times before I was assigned to be his partner.
He taught me a lot. And most importantly he taught me how to be strong and brave when in danger.
Last night we were supposed to celebrate five years of our partnership. But we never suspected that the last call we received at the end of our shift would end up so badly.
We were in pursuit of a stolen car, rushing through the traffic on the highway when the first shots were fired. We didn’t know that the suspect had a gun.
When the car was finally cornered and stopped, we went in first, being at the most advantage.
I closed in and jumped the suspect, but I don’t remember much after that.
Only bits and pieces stayed in my memory.
I held the man down with all my strength, feeling the taste of blood on my lips and tongue. I remember the clenching claws of a terrible cold filling my body. And the warm puddle of red gathering under me.
When the suspect was apprehended by other officers, I could not let him go from my grip. It was as if I froze, unable to relax my muscles.
After that I must have passed out.
I remember the distant and muffled voice of my partner. And the blurry flashes of blue and red. The sirens seemed to be very far away…
I woke up in the hospital, surrounded by tubes and the stench of medicine. I must have been under strong medication, because I was passing out and waking up from time to time. My partner was there most of the time. It felt good to know someone cares if I live or die.
I’ve spent over a week in that place.
I hate hospitals. I hate the stench of medicine and blood and pain.
But there was a nurse there. She kept me company when Michael was not around. And she smelled nice. Like fresh rain and wildflowers. She talked to me, even though I was too weak to answer. But she was there.
And she had the softest hands I ever knew, and the gentlest touch I have experienced in my life.
When I was released to go home, I could barely walk. But the nurse and my partner helped me walk out of the building.
Our colleagues were there. They greeted me and cheered, praising me as a hero for the great job I had done with that suspect.
If it weren’t for me, they said, a lot of lives could be lost.
My partner drove me home, where I stayed until full recovery. I am glad to have such a friend. I am proud to call him my partner.
- Bruno, K9 unit.