rebuildingthroughmiles

Some friends walk beside you for a season.

Others leave paw prints on your heart forever.

Apollo has been my faithful adventure buddy since July 2019.

But our story actually began a few months earlier.

Apollo was born in April 2019 in Puerto Rico. My sister was taking care of him while I tried to figure out how in the world I was going to get him back home to North Carolina. When I told her I wanted him, she laughed and said, “¿Es en serio, loca? ¿Que te lo vas a llevar?” She didn’t believe me for a second. But I already knew he was coming home with me.

So, until I could bring him home, I sent my sister “doggy support” every month to help with Apollo’s food and vet visits.

One day, I boarded a plane to Puerto Rico and flew back home that very same day.

Not for a vacation.

Not for work.

For one little puppy.

The trip home didn’t go exactly as planned.

Our flights became separated after delays in New York. My flight landed in Raleigh almost three hours before Apollo’s did. I remember sitting at the airport, anxiously waiting for him to get in.

When I finally saw him, my heart broke.

There he was, sitting alone in his travel kennel.

Scared.

Anxious.

Confused.

I opened the kennel, and from that moment on, he was home.

The funniest part?

Almost nobody knew I was bringing a dog home.

My mom was the only one who knew I had made the trip. Everyone else got quite a surprise when I walked through the front door carrying a kennel with a Golden Retriever puppy next to me.

Apollo was full of energy from day one.

Curious about everything.

Incredibly smart.

Always ready for whatever adventure came next.

Before long, he became much more than a pet.

He became my best friend.

My hiking partner.

My emotional support dog.

Over the years, Apollo learned something that still amazes me.

He knows when I’m overwhelmed.

He knows when anxiety begins creeping in.

Without anyone asking him, Apollo will quietly come over and lean against me until we’re touching. Sometimes he’ll lay across my legs. Other times he’ll curl up right beside me, always making sure we’re touching somehow.

He doesn’t need commands.

He simply knows.

In those moments, he reminds me to slow down.

To breathe.

To be present.

I’ve often wondered how someone with four paws can understand the human heart so well. At least with Apollo I know there is not language barriers.

somehow…

He always does.

And then there’s the other side of Apollo—the one who’s always ready for our next adventure. He quickly became my favorite adventure buddy.

Together we’ve explored some incredible places across North Carolina.

We’ve wandered the Cape Fear River Trail.

Climbed Pilot Mountain.

Camped at Fort Fisher.

Backpacked into Raven Rock.

Explored the beaches of the Outer Banks.

He even posed for pictures at several of North Carolina’s beautiful lighthouses.

And if you asked Apollo which place he loved most…

I’m pretty sure he’d tell you Mazarick Park.

Not because of the trails.

Because of the squirrels.

He absolutely loved chasing squirrels.

At his peak, Apollo could happily hike nine miles beside me without complaint.

Camping was one of his favorite things.

The beach made him even happier.

As long as we were together, he was ready to go.

Then life changed.

Little by little, I became more sedentary.

School demanded more of my time.

Work became busier.

My health wasn’t where it needed to be.

The hikes became fewer.

The camping trips stopped.

Instead of trails, Apollo spent more time in our backyard.

As my life slowed down…

So did his.

This year, when I decided to rebuild my life through hiking, running, camping, and backpacking, there was never a question about whether Apollo would come with me.

Of course he would.

Adventure has always been our thing.

Our recent camping trip at Fort Fisher reminded me how much he still loved sleeping outdoors.

Then came our first backpacking trip together at Raven Rock.

He struggled more than I expected.

At the time, I thought he was simply getting older.

Now I know there was more happening beneath the surface.

If I had known then what I know today, maybe I would have planned a different adventure.

I’ve thought about that a lot.

But then I remember who Apollo is.

He’s never wanted to stay behind.

The moment he saw hiking boots, he’d wait by the door.

The moment camping gear came out, he was ready.

The moment I grabbed his leash, his whole body wagged with excitement.

Adventure has always been his happy place.

Just like it’s mine.

Today, I don’t know how many more adventures we’ll get to share.

That’s a difficult reality to accept.

He’s getting older now, and our adventures look a little different than they used to.

But one thing I do know is this…

I’m not going to waste the time we have.

We’ll take more walks.

We’ll visit the beach again.

We’ll sit around another campfire.

We’ll chase another sunset.

We’ll make a few more memories.

Because those moments matter.

Reflection

People often ask why I love being outdoors so much.

The truth is…

Some of my favorite memories aren’t about the places.

They’re about who shared them with me.

Apollo has walked beside me through some of the hardest and happiest chapters of my life.

Through it all, he’s been mi mejor amigo.

He has celebrated victories no one else saw.

Comforted me during moments when words weren’t enough.

Reminded me to slow down when life became overwhelming.

Loved me on the days I struggled to love myself.

He has never cared how many miles we hiked.

He never cared about race medals or finish times.

He was simply happy because we were together.

If I’ve learned anything from Apollo, it’s this:

Love doesn’t need words.

Sometimes it looks like muddy paws after a hike.

Sometimes it looks like stealing your sleeping pad while backpacking.

Sometimes it looks like quietly leaning against you until your breathing slows.

The best companions don’t always lead us down the trail.

Sometimes they simply refuse to leave our side.

Apollo has been more than my dog.

He’s been my teacher.

My comfort.

My faithful adventure partner.

And every mile we’ve shared has been a gift.

Until the next mile,
Shak