My father's life lesson

Last night in class the lesson was twists in stories. For some reason we started sharing stories about dogs. Made me remember a time I was walking home from my grandparent's house, around the corner from ours. I was almost home when the next door neighbor's dog came out. I have always been afraid of dogs. The more the dog barked at me the more afraid I was. I was almost home. One house away! And then this monster. I screamed for my dad, for my mother, somebody. When my dad opened the screen door I knew I was saved. But he didn't move. I called for him to come and get me. Rescue me from the dog. He still didn't move. He said, "I'm gon be right here. But you got to cross the dog on yo own." My father was one for life lessons but this one was ill timed, I thought. Looking back though. Looking back maybe that was the best lesson of my life. All those dark and scary and hard nights and lonely mornings. All those times I didn't know if I would make it. Knowing help was out there but not feeling it next to me. I cried for my father but the tears didn't work. But he was there, watching me take one cautious step and then another. Watching me. Cross the dog. All on my own.