It has happened again.

I stepped out of my family’s car and stood like a statue in the cold, debating if it would freeze my tears onto my face.

But then my focus was turned to a big dog running around in the snow. I had never seen the creature ever in my times of visiting my grandparent’s. Never.

It saw me and my family and came bounding towards us, tongue lolling out of its grinning mouth.

Even during this sort of time, I couldn’t help but smile at the dog. I stood still so I would be able to pet him…only for my father to shove me inside my grandparent’s house as he shooed the dog away in fear it would bite me.

But I knew differently.

My grandparents said it was the neighbor’s dog and how the fence never keeps him in.

I smiled because I knew better.

It was my uncle.

And he wanted to come back.