It was an ordinary morning at the police station. Paperwork stacked high. Officers sipping coffee. Nothing unusual in sight. But then out of nowhere, a tiny stray puppy stumbled through the doors. Muddy paws, trembling body, and eyes filled with desperation. He didn’t bark. He didn’t run.

Instead, he walked straight toward one officer, sat down, and lifted his little paws as if begging for help. What happened next left everyone in the station and later the entire town in tears. Before we start, make sure to hit like, share, and subscribe. And I love seeing how far these stories travel. Tell me in the comments where in the world are you watching from.

The morning at the police station began like any other. Quiet, predictable, almost dull. The air carried the faint aroma of brewed coffee mixed with the musty scent of old paperwork stacked on wooden desks. A single ceiling fan hummed overhead, pushing the stale air in slow circles. Officers shuffled through files, typing out reports and exchanging small talk about last night’s football game.

It was a scene of routine, the kind of calm that made the building feel more like an office than a place of law enforcement. At one end of the room, Officer Daniel sat at his desk, his eyes fixed on a half-finished report. He wasn’t the loudest among his colleagues, nor the most talkative.

Instead, Daniel carried a quiet presence, steady and dependable, someone the others could rely on when things grew serious. He glanced up briefly when one of the younger officers cracked a joke that sent laughter echoing off the walls. For a moment, even Daniel allowed himself a faint smile.

The captain leaned back in his chair, sipping from his mug, his deep voice filling the room with casual conversation. Phones rang occasionally, papers shuffled, but nothing felt urgent. It was by all accounts an ordinary start to an ordinary day. No alarms, no emergencies, just the monotony of duty. No one in that room could have predicted how quickly that monotony would shatter.

None of the officers knew that within minutes their day would change into something unforgettable, something they would talk about for a years to come. What walked through the doors next would not be a criminal nor a frantic civilian in need. It would be something smaller, quieter, yet more powerful than any siren call.

And it all began with tiny paws on the station floor. The station door creaked open with a low groan. the sound sharp against the quiet hum of routine. At first, no one paid much attention. Officers assumed it was another civilian walking in with a minor complaint. But when heads lifted and eyes turned toward the doorway, silence swept the room like a sudden wind.

There, standing hesitantly on the threshold was a small scruffy puppy. Its fur was matted with mud, its ribs faintly visible beneath the skin, and its eyes, those wide, pleading eyes, spoke louder than any words could. For a moment, time seemed to freeze. No one moved. No one spoke. The only sound was the faint scratching of tiny claws against the tiled floor.

As the puppy took one uncertain step inside, a laugh broke the silence. One officer, leaning casually against his desk, chuckled. “Well, would you look at that? We’ve got ourselves a new recruit.” Another shook his head, smirking. Lost pup must have taken a wrong turn. Their words carried amusement, but Daniel didn’t laugh.

He leaned forward, studying the little creature more closely. The puppy didn’t run or bark. Instead, it walked straight toward the center of the room, its head lowered slightly, tail tucked as if it knew it had entered a place of authority. Then, to everyone’s astonishment, it stopped in front of Daniel, sat on its hind legs, and lifted its tiny front paws, pressing them together almost like a prayer. The room erupted in murmurss.

“What on earth is it? Begging!” one officer whispered. Daniel felt his chest tighten. This wasn’t the random wandering of a stray. The puppy had come here for a reason. Its trembling body, the desperation in its eyes. It was as though it was pleading for help. Not for itself, but for something more. And in that instant, the entire station realized this was no ordinary interruption. This was a silent cry for help.

The little puppy stayed frozen in that position, front paws pressed together as though it were praying, its eyes locked onto Daniel’s face. The room, once filled with laughter and casual chatter, had fallen into an uneasy hush. Even the captain, who rarely showed emotion, leaned forward, his mug hovering midway to his lips. Something about the puppy’s posture, so deliberate, so humanlike, demanded attention. One of the younger officers shifted uncomfortably. “Is it trained to do that?” he asked, his voice uncertain.

“No one answered. They all knew a stray couldn’t possibly perform such a gesture on command. This was something different, something raw and desperate.” Daniel crouched slowly, his knees bending until he was at eye level with the trembling creature. Up close, he could see the dirt clinging to its fur, the exhaustion etched into its tiny body. Yet, it wasn’t just hunger or cold that had brought the pup here.

There was urgency in its eyes, a silent scream that begged them to understand. The puppy let out a soft whine, almost like a whisper. Its body shook, not only from weakness, but from fear. With a shaky paw, it tapped the floor, then looked back at the door before returning its gaze to Daniel. The meaning was clear. Follow me.

Daniel’s throat tightened around him. His colleagues exchanged bewildered glances, unsure whether to laugh, dismiss, or take this strange plea seriously. But Daniel felt something deeper. A pull, an instinct he couldn’t ignore. He reached out a cautious hand, and instead of retreating, the puppy leaned forward, pressing its tiny paw into his palm.

The connection sent a wave of unspoken understanding rushing through him. This wasn’t just a stray begging for food or shelter. This was a cry for help. And Daniel knew without a doubt that something far bigger awaited beyond those station doors. Daniel had always believed that instincts mattered just as much as training.

In his years of service, he had seen people lie with straight faces, criminals mask fear behind bravado, and even seasoned officers misjudge situations. But animals, animals rarely lied. They acted on survival, on truth. And this little puppy, trembling, pleading, insistent, was no exception. As he crouched there, the other officers kept throwing comments around. “It’s just hungry, Daniel,” one said, shaking his head. “Give it some food. It’ll leave.

” Another added, “Strays wander in all the time. Don’t get soft.” Their voices blurred into the background. Daniel’s focus remained locked on the pup. On the way its gaze refused to break, on the way it glanced back at the door like it needed him to understand something urgent. He remembered his childhood dog Max, a loyal shepherd who once barked relentlessly until Daniel followed him into the backyard, only to find his younger sister lying on the ground, unconscious after a fall.

That memory clung to him now. Sometimes dogs saw what humans missed. Sometimes they were the only warning you’d ever get. Daniel stood slowly, the puppy’s paw slipping from his hand. This isn’t just about food, he said quietly, more to himself than to anyone else. He’s trying to tell us something. The captain raised an eyebrow.

You think the mut’s on a mission? His tone was skeptical, but his eyes revealed curiosity. Daniel didn’t smile. I think he came here for a reason. and if we ignore it, we’ll regret it.” The room fell silent again. For a moment, no one moved. Then the puppy let out another sharp whine, spinning toward the door, scratching frantically before turning back to Daniel. His instincts screamed louder than ever.

Whatever lay outside, Daniel knew this was the beginning of something that would test them all. Before rushing out blindly, Daniel decided they needed to understand the puppy’s condition. He knelt again, gently scooping the trembling creature into his arms. The pup weighed almost nothing, its frail body evidence of days, maybe weeks, without proper food.

Mud clung to its paws. Its belly was empty, and its breathing came in shallow pants. Still, despite the weakness, there was fire in its eyes. “Poor things half starved,” murmured Officer Reyes, watching as Daniel examined the pup. Another officer hurried to the kitchen corner and returned with a small bowl of water. Daniel set it down carefully. The puppy sniffed it, lapped a few drops, but then pulled back almost impatiently.

Its focus wasn’t on eating or drinking. It kept darting glances at the door. Daniel frowned. See that? If it were just hungry, it wouldn’t stop. He checked for injuries, running his hand gently along the pup’s legs and back. No obvious wounds, no broken bones.

But as Daniel touched its fur, the puppy whimpered softly and pawed again at the door, scratching, twisting in his arms. It was like holding urgency itself. Something’s out there, Daniel muttered. The captain stood with crossed arms, skeptical, but listening now. You really think this dog walked into our station for a reason? Daniel nodded firmly. He didn’t stumble in by chance. He’s leading us somewhere. Look at him.

The puppy squirmed again, whimpering louder as though begging them to hurry. Its determination was undeniable. And suddenly, even the doubters in the room felt the shift. This wasn’t a lost stray. This was a messenger. Daniel set the puppy down, watching as it immediately darted to the door, scratching furiously, looking back over its shoulder with pleading eyes. There was no more doubt.

The pup wasn’t asking for food or shelter. It was asking for help, and Daniel knew it was time to follow. The moment Daniel opened the station door, the puppy bolted forward, its tiny legs carrying it with surprising speed. Officers exchanged wary glances, some shaking their heads, but curiosity pulled them along. A few muttered under their breath about chasing a stray being a waste of time. Yet, not one of them turned away.

There was something about the pup’s urgency that none of them could ignore. Daniel followed close behind, his boots crunching against the gravel. The puppy would sprint a few feet ahead, then pause, turning back to ensure they were following before rushing forward again.

Its whines echoed down the quiet street, sharp cries that carried desperation. “Where on earth is he taking us?” one officer asked, struggling to keep up. Daniel didn’t answer. His gut twisted with unease. Every instinct screamed that this wasn’t random. He had seen police dogs alert to danger, but this pup’s determination felt different, like it was carrying a secret too heavy for its small frame. They passed curious shopkeepers who leaned out of their stores to watch the strange procession.

Uniformed officers following a stray puppy like obedient recruits. Some chuckled, others frowned, but most simply stared, sensing something unusual was happening. The puppy darted through narrow lanes, paws splashing through puddles from the morning rain. Every few yards it stopped, barked once, short, sharp, insistent, then pressed on.

The officers grew quieter, their earlier skepticism fading into tense silence. Daniel’s mind raced. What would they find? A missing child? Someone in danger? The possibilities churned in his thoughts as the puppy finally veered toward the outskirts of town where the streets grew emptier and houses older. The air grew colder, heavier as they near the edge of a forgotten neighborhood.

The pup slowed, tail low, ears perked as if sensing they were close. Then it stopped abruptly, its little body stiff, staring at a looming structure ahead. Daniel followed its gaze and felt a chill run down his spine. It was an abandoned house. The stray puppy’s tiny paws echoed against the cracked pavement as it guided the group deeper into the forgotten part of town.

Once busy streets had grown silent here, shop windows were boarded up, weeds crawled through broken sidewalks, and the faint smell of dampness lingered in the air. The officers followed in uneasy silence, their uniforms out of place in the deserted lanes. Children peaked from behind fences as the strange sight passed. A squad of officers trailing after a mudstained puppy that moved with urgency far greater than its size.

Curious whispers trailed them, and a few neighbors stepped outside, brows furrowed in confusion. “What’s going on?” one asked, but no one answered. Even the officers weren’t sure. The puppy barked once, sharp and loud, before cutting down a narrower path. Daniel’s pulse quickened as he followed. The sound of their footsteps filled the emptiness, each crunch of gravel amplifying the tension that had gripped them all.

His eyes scanned the street, noting the sagging rooftops, the shattered glass, the eerie quiet that seemed to swallow every sound. “Feels like a ghost town,” Officer Reyes muttered. His voice carried unease, but his feet kept moving. None of them could bring themselves to stop now. Daniel kept his eyes on the pup. Despite its small frame, it moved with certainty, as if following a map only it could see.

Its tail was low, ears alert, every step calculated. And every so often, it would glance back, meeting Daniel’s gaze with a silent plea. Don’t fall behind. The deeper they went, the more Daniel’s instincts screamed that this was no wild chase. Something waited at the end of this trail. Something the puppy had risked everything to reveal.

At last, the pup halted at the edge of a crumbling fence, staring ahead. Its body stiffened, ears twitching. Beyond the fence loomed the shadow of an abandoned house, silent, foroding, and full of secrets yet to be uncovered. The house loomed like a ghost from another time, its wooden frame sagging beneath years of neglect.

Windows were shattered, their jagged edges glinting faintly in the gray light. The once white paint had peeled away, leaving behind dark streaks of rot. A rusted gate swung loosely on broken hinges, squealing as the breeze pushed and back and forth. The puppy froze at the entrance, tail tucked low, whimpering softly. It paced nervously, circling the gate before pawing at the ground. Its behavior was clear.

This was the place. Whatever had driven it to the police station was hidden here. Daniel felt his stomach knot as he stepped closer. The air around the house was heavy, carrying the damp, musty scent of mildew. Every instinct told him something was terribly wrong. Behind him, the other officers shifted uneasily.

“Of all the places,” Reyes muttered, his voice tight. “Why did it have to be here?” Daniel glanced at him. You know this place? Yeah. Reyes nodded grimly. Used to belong to an old man. Died years ago. Since then, it’s just been left to rot. Locals say it’s cursed. No one goes near. Yet, the captain exhaled, his expression dark. Well, looks like we’re going in.

They pushed open the gate, the screech of rusted metal cutting through the silence like a warning. The puppy darted inside immediately, sprinting across the overgrown yard and toward the broken front door. It scratched frantically at the wood before slipping through a gap where the door frame had splintered. The officers exchanged one last glance, nervous but resolute. Daniel led the way, his flashlight already in hand.

With a firm push, the door creaked open wider, revealing the darkness inside. The house swallowed them in shadows. Dust floated through the air like ghosts. The floor groaned beneath their boots, and the smell of decay thickened with every step. The puppy’s whimper echoed faintly from deeper inside, urging them onward. Something waited in that silence. Something that would explain everything.

The beam of Daniel’s flashlight cut through the thick darkness, landing on walls lined with peeling wallpaper and cobwebs. Every step echoed. the old wooden boards groaning as though warning them to leave. The air was stifling, filled with dust and the sour tang of decay.

Still, the puppy pressed forward, its whimpers growing louder, guiding them deeper into the hollowed shell of the house. “Stay sharp,” the captain whispered, his voice low but firm. His hand rested near his holster. Though deep down even he knew this wasn’t about danger from criminals. It was about uncovering something hidden, something tragic.

The puppy stopped suddenly in the living room, pawing at a collapsed piece of furniture. Broken chairs and rotting planks lay in a heap, half covering a gap in the floorboards. The pup’s cries rose higher, now urgent, desperate, filled with a pain that made the officer’s chests tighten. Daniel knelt, pushing debris aside. The beam of his flashlight caught movement. Tiny, trembling bodies huddled together, his breath caught in his throat.

Dear God,” Reyes muttered. Underneath the rubble were several more puppies, smaller than the one that had led them here. Their fur was patchy, their ribs visible, and their eyes wide with fear. They whimpered weakly, too exhausted even to bark. It was a heartbreaking sight. Fragile lives abandoned to the shadows, waiting for help that might never have come.

For a long moment, the officers could only stare, speechless. Men who had seen crime, violence, and the darkest sides of humanity now found themselves fighting back tears. The captain swallowed hard his rough exterior cracking. “How long? How long have they been here?” he whispered.

Daniel reached down, scooping one of the pups gently into his arms. It was feather light, its tiny heartbeat fluttering weakly against his chest. He looked at the first stray, the one who had begged for help at the station. It stood nearby, wagging its tail faintly despite its exhaustion, eyes shining with relief. It hadn’t come for itself. It had come for them. Daniel’s voice broke the silence.

They would have died in here, all of them. And at that moment, every officer in the room realized they weren’t just following a stray. They were following a hero. The room fell into a heavy silence broken only by the soft whimpers of the starving puppies. Daniel cradled one against his chest, its tiny body trembling as though it didn’t believe safety was real.

The first stray, the brave little scout, stood nearby, tail wagging faintly, its eyes fixed on Daniel as if pleading for reassurance that its mission wasn’t in vain. For hardened officers who had spent years facing criminals, accidents, and tragedies, this moment felt different. The sight of such fragile, innocent lives left behind in darkness pierced through the armor they wore every day.

Even the captain, known for his stern voice and unshakable demeanor, pressed his hand against his mouth, his eyes glistening as he looked away. Reyes crouched down gently touching one of the weaker pups. The little thing let out a faint cry, leaning against his gloved hand as if clinging to life itself.

His throat tightened and he muttered, “They’re just babies. Who could do this?” His words trembled, half question, half condemnation. No. One had an answer. One of the younger officers, barely a year into the force, wiped his eyes quickly, embarrassed at the tears. But Daniel noticed, and he didn’t blame him. The cruelty of the world always cut deepest when it fell on the helpless.

Daniel knelt lower, whispering softly to the first pup. “You did good,” he said, voicebreaking. “You saved them.” The words weren’t just for the puppy. They were for himself, for everyone in that room who needed to believe in something pure amidst all the ugliness they faced daily.

The stray tilted its head, then pressed its little body against Daniel’s leg, a gesture so small yet so powerful that it shattered the last of their restraint. One by one, the officers lowered themselves to the floor, gathering the fragile pups into their arms. uniforms smeared with dust and dirt. Hearts heavy yet softening. They let the emotion wash over them. It wasn’t weakness. It was humanity.

In that broken, abandoned house surrounded by fragile life clinging to hope. Even the toughest men couldn’t hold back their tears. And for the first time that day, they didn’t try. The silence didn’t last long. Once the first wave of emotion passed, instinct and duty took over. Daniel straightened his voice steady despite the heaviness in his chest. We can’t waste time. They won’t survive much longer in here.

The captain nodded sharply, wiping at his eyes before barking orders. Reyes grabbed those blankets from the cruiser. Parker, call animal control and the vet. Tell them it’s an emergency. We’re bringing them in. His tone was firm now. The voice of a leader who refused to let another minute slip away. Officers moved quickly.

Their earlier hesitation gone, dust clouds rose as they shifted broken furniture and pried the shivering puppies free from the rubble. Each one whimpered weakly as it was lifted into warm, steady hands, pressing against the officers as if finally believing they were safe. Reyes rushed back with blankets, laying them out on the floor.

The officers gently placed the pups on them, wrapping their tiny bodies in layers of warmth. One puppy stirred faintly, its eyes fluttering open before closing again, too weak to hold on. Daniel knelt beside it, rubbing its back gently, whispering, “Stay with us, little one. You’re not alone anymore.” The first stray hovered nearby, pacing nervously as though supervising the rescue.

Every time an officer carried a pup out, the little dog wagged its tail in relief, only to run back inside, checking for more. The transformation of the station’s officers was remarkable. These were men trained for pursuit, for handcuffs and confrontation, now cradling fragile lives as tenderly as parents. Their uniforms, once symbols of authority, had become shields of compassion.

Within minutes, they carried the last of the puppies outside, wrapped in blankets, bundled against the cold. The captain himself held two, his jaw tight, but his eyes softer than anyone had ever seen. As the officers loaded the pups into waiting vehicles, Daniel glanced back at the house. The shadows inside felt heavier now, but the silence was no longer hopeless.

They had pulled life from it, carried hope out into the light. And for the first time in years, the station wasn’t just about law and order. It was about saving lives. The officers were just beginning to relax as the last of the puppies were settled into blankets, their tiny bodies finally warming under careful hands.

A sense of relief hung in the air, fragile but real. They had saved them. Or so they thought. Then the first stray let out a sharp bark. Its tail, which had wagged moments earlier, stiffened. It darted back to the door of the abandoned house, pawing furiously, barking louder and louder. The sound was not one of joy, but urgency. Panic even.

Daniel froze. His gut twisted. Wait, he whispered. He’s saying it’s not over. The other officers exchanged uneasy glances. But we got them all, Rehea said, glancing at the bundle of weak pups, didn’t we? The little stray barked again, this time turning in frantic circles before charging toward Daniel and nipping lightly at his boot, then racing back to the door.

Its eyes burned with insistence. Daniel’s heart pounded. He knew that look, that desperation. The dog wasn’t wrong. It couldn’t be. Something or someone was still inside. Without hesitation, he grabbed his flashlight again. I’m going back in. The captain sighed heavily, but there was no argument. Fine. Reyes. Parker, go with him.

Check every corner. The officers hurried back into the house, the stray, leading them once more. Dust swirled as they swept through darkened rooms, pulling aside broken boards and peering under collapsed furniture. For a moment, nothing stirred, only silence and shadows. Then from deeper in the house came a sound. Not a whimper this time, but a faint, almost pained cry.

Daniel’s chest tightened as he followed the sound. The stray right at his heels. There was more to this story. The pup hadn’t just saved its siblings. It was guiding them toward something else. Something they hadn’t seen yet. The sound grew clearer as Daniel pushed deeper into the ruined house.

It wasn’t the high-pitched whimper of a puppy. It was lower, raspier, almost like a moan. The stray bounded ahead, weaving through broken beams and piles of debris, finally stopping at a shadowed corner near the back wall. Its paws scratched at the floor, its tail low, body trembling. Daniel raised his flashlight.

The beam landed on a figure half hidden beneath rotting planks and scraps of old fabric. His breath caught. It was a dog, a full-grown female. Her coat, once beautiful, but now dulled with dirt and neglect. Her ribs jutted out painfully, her breath shallow, her eyes glassy with exhaustion. Reyes knelt quickly, his hand hovering uncertainly.

“It’s the mother,” he whispered, his voice breaking. The mother dog tried to lift her head, but the effort was too much. She let out a faint whine, her gaze flicking toward the stray and then to Daniel. In her eyes was a message clearer than words, “Take care of them.” The stray pressed itself against her side, nuzzling her face, whimpering softly.

The officers watched in silence, their throats tight, their hearts heavy. This was the final piece, the missing link. The brave little puppy hadn’t just saved its siblings. It had brought them here to witness its mother’s sacrifice. Daniel’s knees hit the floor. He reached out, stroking the dog’s frail head.

You did everything you could,” he whispered. His voice cracked as he added, “Rest now. We’ll protect them.” The mother gave one final shuddered breath, her eyes slipping closed. The room fell into stillness. For a long moment, no one moved. Even the captain turned away, his jaw clenched, fighting back tears. The stray let out a mournful howl.

A sound so raw it pierced the walls, echoing through the empty house like a farewell. Daniel closed his eyes, his hand still resting on the mother’s head. She held on just long enough, he murmured, voice trembling, long enough to make sure they’d be safe. And in that moment, the weight of her love and the stray’s courage crushed them all.

The ride back to the station was unlike any other. The officers had taken. Instead of suspects in the back seat, they carried bundles of life. Fragile whimpering puppies wrapped in blankets. The first stray sat pressed against Daniel’s leg, its eyes still glistening from the loss of its mother, but its body finally beginning to relax. It had done its part. The rest was in their hands now.

At the station, desks were cleared, boxes overturned, and old jackets spread out to create makeshift beds. The usually stern walls of the precinct echoed not with the sound of radios or complaints, but with the soft whimpers of new residents. Officers who once complained about paperwork now knelt on the floor, offering bowls of water, tiny bites of food, and gentle touches to creatures who had known nothing but neglect.

Daniel sat cross-legged on the floor, the first stray curled up beside him. He stroked its fur gently, whispering, “You’re safe now. They’re safe because of you.” The pup pressed its nose against his palm, its eyes closing with trust. For the first time, Daniel saw not just desperation in its gaze, but peace.

The captain walked in, his usual commanding presence softened. He carried two fresh blankets from his own locker, placing them gently over the pups. They’re part of the station now,” he said gruffly, though his voice wavered. No one argued. Word spread quickly through the small town. By evening, neighbors began arriving, some bringing food, others blankets, and many with tears in their eyes after hearing what had happened. For once, the police station wasn’t just a place of law.

It had become a shelter, a sanctuary, a home. As night fell, Daniel looked around the room. Officers, towns people, even strangers were gathered, united by the sight of tiny lives saved. The air still carried sorrow for the mother they had lost. But her legacy breathed in every heartbeat of her puppies. And for Daniel, the message was clear.

Sometimes the most powerful heroes aren’t the ones in uniform, but the ones with paws who lead you straight into the truth. Days turned into weeks, and what began as a moment of tragedy grew into a story that touched an entire community.

News of the stray puppy who ran into a police station spread quickly, carried by local papers and shared endlessly across social media. People couldn’t believe it. A starving, fragile puppy had done what many humans might not have had the courage to do. It had walked straight into the arms of authority, demanding to be heard, demanding that its family be saved. At the station, the atmosphere had transformed.

Where there had once been only paperwork and duty, there was now life and laughter. The rescued puppies thrived under the officer’s care, gaining strength each day. Officers, who once grumbled about long shifts now volunteered for extra time, just to sit on the floor and let the pups climb over them. The station that once symbolized rules and discipline had become a place of second chances.

But the true heart of it all remained the little stray, the brave scout who had led them to the abandoned house. Daniel had taken special responsibility for him, often bringing him home after shifts. Yet, even at the station, everyone called the pup their own. He became their guardian, their mascot, their reminder of what love and loyalty looked like.

The town’s people began to call him Angel, name born from the note left by one grateful woman who had heard the story. Tell the dog he’s an angel. For Daniel, those words never left his mind. He would often look at Angel sleeping peacefully beside the other pups and think of the mother dog, her sacrifice, and the strength that tiny body had carried into the station that day.

The legacy of Angel’s courage was more than just the survival of his siblings. It was the reminder that even the smallest, weakest among us can be heroes. And as the town embraced the story, one truth became undeniable. Sometimes the most powerful rescues don’t begin with sirens or shouts. Sometimes they begin with the quiet sound of tiny paws, walking into a place where hope still lives.