i have a dog.

Somewhere someone is having the worst day of their life. Their child stopped breathing. Their spouse is not waking up. Their brother was in an accident. Somewhere someone is crying out for help. An abused wife. A neglected child. A drug addict. Somewhere someone is counting the seconds until help arrives. A single mom who’s house has been broken into. A daughter watching her dad hold a gun to his head. An aunt not knowing what drugs her niece is on. Somewhere someone is in shock. The 30 year old that just became a widow. The once happy parents of a 6 month old. The sister who found her sibling after losing to cancer too soon.

Somewhere. Someone. Is throwing on boots, and running to the squad. Hitting the emergency lights while pulling out of the bay. Hoping a car will stop so they can pass the red light.

Somewhere. Someone. Will see the blood left on the wall from that dad. Will hold that baby knowing he’ll never breath again. Will listen to the screams of family members in heart break.

Somewhere. Someone. Woke up at 2am to save that drug addict for the 8th time this year. Skipped dinner to go help a man with a stubbed toe. Missed holidays, birthdays, soccer games to answer the call of duty.

Somewhere. Someone. Worked 25 years just to get ptsd and lose their job. Finally passed all their schooling and tests just to have a career ending injury day 1. Mixed paths with someone in such a hurry they didn’t stop for the flashing lights.

Somewhere. Someone. Left at 7am for their 24 hour shift. Made it till 3pm without lunch. Was hit head on at 7pm by a car not paying attention.

Someone. Somewhere. Answered a call for a suicidal male. 5 minutes later was looking eye to eye with the man that would kill her. A mayday. Shots fired. Is being echoed on radios.

Someone. Somewhere. Makes 16 cents more then minimum wage. Works 100 hour weeks to pay the bills. Gives their life to others, to be paid less then fast food workers.

Someone. Somewhere. Will see their partner more then their spouse. Will skip more meals then they can sit down for. Will wake up more times then they get to lay down.