Visited in the night: Peter D Leeming considers valuable relationships following a chance encounter.
‘We exist and feel alive only through our relationships with others.’
I close my eyes and I see him again. Walking towards me along a dark forest path comes a tall, gaunt figure with dishevelled black hair, a thick beard and dressed in a long woollen cloak almost touching the ground. It is an almost biblical apparition I think but as he draws near I begin to feel nervous, for he carries a stout staff and has a huge black dog at his side. Later, when we meet again, I feel ashamed for he has a gentle nature and the dog is more docile than most. He has walked across borders and through many countries to find shelter here, with people who comprehend what he has endured. Somewhere on his journey the dog found him sleeping in the fields. It curled up warmly beside him and by next morning they were inseparable. The dog, he might say, was his salvation. It cannot defend him or ward off danger but it is his constant, faithful companion, ceaselessly watching over him, instinctively leading him when on difficult paths and alerting him to risks. It looks up at him, its big dark eyes shining with love and affection.
You need to login to read subscriber-only content and/or comment on articles.