Tom was a small black puppy with soft, fluffy fur and a face so cute that anyone would want to hold him. His round eyes were full of innocence, and his tiny tail wagged every time he heard a sound, as if he believed every person in the world was kind.
He was playful, curious, and full of energy. Every day, Tom would run around the house with his little paws tapping against the floor. Sometimes he chased his ball. Sometimes he jumped happily around the living room. He never meant to cause trouble. He only wanted to play, to be loved, and to make someone smile.
That afternoon, Tom was playing near the staircase. His little ball rolled across the floor, and he quickly ran after it. His fluffy ears bounced with every step. He was so excited that he did not notice the table beside him.
Suddenly, his small body bumped into the table.
The flower vase on top began to shake.
Tom stopped and looked up, confused.
A second later, the vase fell.
It crashed onto the floor and broke into many pieces.
The loud sound frightened Tom. He froze in place, his ears dropped low, and his little body trembled. He looked at the broken vase, then looked toward the room where the woman was. He did not understand what had happened. He only knew that something was wrong.
When the woman came out and saw the broken vase, her face changed immediately. Anger filled her eyes.
She shouted loudly.
Tom stepped back in fear. His tiny tail stopped wagging. He lowered his head, as if he was trying to say sorry without words. He was only a puppy. He did not know the value of the vase. He did not know how to explain that it had been an accident.
But the woman did not care.
She kept yelling at him. Her voice became louder and colder. Tom backed away until his little paws reached the edge of the staircase. His eyes looked up at her, full of fear and confusion. He hoped she would calm down. He hoped she would understand.
Instead, she grabbed him.
Tom’s little body stiffened in terror.
Before he could cry or move, the woman threw him toward the stairs.
The small puppy tumbled down the steps.
His body rolled helplessly from one stair to another. His fluffy black fur became messy, and his tiny legs twisted as he tried to stop himself. Each hit made him weaker. Each step took away a little more of the happy puppy who had been playing only moments before.
At last, Tom landed at the bottom of the stairs.
He lay there quietly.
His round eyes were half-open, still filled with fear. His little chest moved weakly as he tried to breathe. The tail that once wagged with joy no longer moved.
Tom tried to lift his head.
He wanted to look back up the stairs. He wanted to understand why he had been punished so cruelly for a mistake he never meant to make.
But his body was too weak.
He could only lie there, silent and trembling.
Tom was just a small puppy. He did not understand anger. He did not understand cruelty. All he ever wanted was to play near the people he trusted.
And as he lay at the bottom of the staircase, his innocent eyes seemed to ask one heartbreaking question:
“I’m sorry… but why did you hurt me?”
