The Familiar Sight
Nathan's heart skipped a beat as he gazed at the familiar sight before him. After four long years of searching, he could hardly believe his eyes—Alexa, his beloved dog, was finally back in his arms. Tears welled up as he took in the overwhelming emotion of the moment.
To Nathan Thompson, Alexa was more than just a pet; she was family. His first companion, a roommate in every sense, and a constant source of joy and comfort. Her disappearance in the sea had left a hole in his heart, and the agony of losing her was something he couldn’t shake. Reuniting with her now felt like a dream come true.
Captivated By Sight
At 18, shortly after leaving his parents' home, Nathan found himself in front of a pet store. There, he was captivated by the sight of a tiny black Newfoundland puppy, its big, soulful eyes staring up at him. Unable to resist, he made an impulsive decision to take the little bundle of joy home with him that same day.
From that moment on, Nathan and Alexa shared an unbreakable bond. This Newfoundland puppy, with her boundless energy and loyalty, became his constant companion, marking the start of a lasting friendship that would shape his life in ways he never imagined.
Their Love For Fishing
In 2017, Nathan and Alexa settled in San Diego, where they embraced their love for fishing. With Nathan purchasing a small boat, fishing trips became a regular weekend activity, often just the two of them out on the open water.
They both relished the solitude, enjoying the peacefulness of the vast ocean. For Alexa, the highlight of each trip was savoring the fresh fish they caught, making the experience even more memorable.
Waking Up Early
The day began like any other Saturday, with Nathan and his companion waking up early to prepare for their fishing trip. However, this Saturday carried a weight of unspoken significance, one that Nathan couldn't quite understand yet. He was eager to get out to sea, looking forward to a day of adventure and relaxation.
Little did he know that this seemingly ordinary outing would change everything. As they set off, there was no way for Nathan to anticipate the deep void that would soon reside in his heart. What awaited him was a reality far different from what he had imagined.
The Necessary Gear
Nathan carefully packed the car with all the necessary gear, while Alexa, perched next to the door, eagerly awaited their departure. The life vest clutched in her mouth, she exuded an excitement that mirrored her owner's. Her anticipation seemed contagious, both ready for whatever adventure lay ahead.
But neither of them knew what was in store for them. They were unprepared for the unexpected turn of events that would soon unfold, altering their plans in ways they hadn't anticipated.
Incredible Swimming Skills
Alexa, a Newfoundland, didn’t really need a life vest. Known for their incredible swimming skills, Newfoundlands were often used as rescue dogs in water-related emergencies. Still, Nathan worried about her safety whenever they ventured out to sea. Since she was a puppy, he insisted she wear a life vest, even though he didn’t fully understand why.
One day, his precaution turned out to be more than just a habit. The vest, which Nathan had thought was unnecessary, ultimately saved Alexa’s life in an unexpected situation, proving that his overprotectiveness had been worth it.
Stretch Across The Sky
By the time Nathan and Alexa reached their boat, the first light of day had begun to stretch across the sky. As the morning warmth started to settle in, Nathan could already sense the abundance of fish nearby, the air thick with their scent. However, it wasn't the fish that would become his concern.
As they set off, it soon became clear that their focus needed to shift. The waters held more than just fish, and Nathan would soon find that something far more unexpected was waiting for them.
Heading Toward The Island
Nathan and Alexa set off across the water, heading toward the smaller islands along the coast. Nathan was eager to reach his favorite fishing spot, just beyond the islands, where he could relax and enjoy the day.
When they finally arrived, Nathan cut the engine and took a moment to play with Alexa. Little did he know, this would be the last time they'd share such a peaceful moment together.
Sun Beaming
Nathan cast his line into the water, the sun beaming overhead. Alexa lay in front of him, her eyes fixed on the stillness of the lake, eagerly awaiting his first catch.
As the minutes passed, the quiet solitude of the boat began to wear on Nathan. The rhythmic sound of water lapping against the sides and the warm sunlight made it easy for him to lose focus. Fatigued from a long day, his eyes grew heavy, and the peaceful surroundings made it tempting to drift off into sleep.
Long Hours
Nathan had been putting in long hours at his new job, eager to make a good impression. As the days went on, the exhaustion started to take its toll, though he pushed himself to keep going.
One evening, while relaxing and fishing to unwind, his tiredness got the better of him. His eyelids grew heavy, and before he knew it, he had fallen asleep. It wasn’t until the sharp pull on his fishing line jolted him awake that he realized what had happened. Unfortunately, by then, it was already too late.
Shocking Discovery
Nathan jumped up and reached for his rod, immediately reeling it in. That was when he realized something strange was going on. Alexa always barked when he had a catch, but this time she wasn’t even there.
Shocked by the silence, Nathan looked around. But he couldn’t see Alexa anywhere, and it wasn’t like his boat was very big—a dog her size could be seen from a mile away.
The Search Began
Nathan was getting concerned. Being absent for this long was not typical for Alexa, especially not when there was a fish on the line.
At first, he thought she might’ve gone below deck to get away from the sun, as Newfoundlanders weren’t used to such hot days. So he went down to check and found something that shocked him to his core.
Nowhere To Be Found
Nathan’s heart was pounding in his throat as he ran back up. He called Alexa’s name over and over again, but there was no sign of her anywhere.
Nathan looked out at the vast open ocean, hoping Alexa had just gone for a swim to cool down. But he couldn’t even see a hint of her bright orange life vest.
Contacting The Authorities
Nathan was distraught and did the only thing he could think of. He radioed the local coast guard as well as the Navy base he passed to get to his fishing spot.
Luckily, the coast guard understood the distressed man and sent a team out to help him find his beloved dog. Nathan felt a sense of relief wash over him. If anyone could find Alexa in this big ocean, it was the coast guard.
A Weekend Long Search Operation
When the coast guard arrived at his coordinates, Nathan showed them a picture of Alexa and told them exactly what had happened. Convinced that the pup couldn’t have gotten far, the coast guard began their search.
Saturday passed without a word. Sunday came and went. But there was no sign of Alexa being anywhere near where Nathan last saw her.
Losing Hope
A week passed, and Nathan still hadn’t heard anything from the coast guard. He was starting to lose hope because he knew that even though Newfoundlanders were amazing, strong dogs, Alexa wouldn’t be able to survive in the water for that long.
Nathan was crushed by the thought, but it was a possibility he couldn’t ignore.
Posting A Message Online
Two weeks after Alexa went missing, Nathan posted a heartfelt message on Facebook. He explained what had happened to her and thanked her for being there when he needed her most.
His inbox was flooded with messages of support, but that did nothing to make him feel better. He missed Alexa, and no amount of messages was going to bring her back.
Six Weeks Later
For the next six weeks, Nathan went to the shore every single morning and night. He was hoping that he might’ve been mistaken and that Alexa would magically reappear.
Then one night, as Nathan was looking over the water, his phone rang. It wasn’t a local number, so he answered out of curiosity. There was a man on the other end of the line, but he was speaking in a language Nathan couldn’t understand.
Admitting Defeat
The man on the phone eventually got fed up with Nathan’s inability to understand him and hung up. But to Nathan, it was a sign.
He felt that it was time for him to let his beloved dog go and move on with his life. He wasn’t the type of person who would just give up. But he had to admit that his search had gone on for far too long.
Years Fly By
Over the next four years, Nathan tried to put the incident behind him, but there were some things that never changed. He stayed in San Diego, and every night, he visited the shore.
Every year on the 15th of July, he would go out to sea and hold a little remembrance ceremony for Alexa. And he was still unable to open his heart to any other dog.
Tracking Her Chip
But this year was different. While Nathan was out at sea for his little moment of silence, a wave of emotions washed over him. He missed Alexa terribly and wanted something to remind him of the good times they shared.
So he pulled out his laptop and looked at the information that was stored on her microchip. What he saw left him speechless.
Extremely Confused
Over the last few years, the microchip kept recording data, and according to it, Alexa has been all over the world.
Nathan just stared at the screen, unable to put a proper thought together. This could mean that she was still alive and that she was somewhere out there. But how was that possible? And where was she?
A Spark
A spark of hope flared in Nathan’s chest. If Alexa were alive, he would find her, even if it meant he had to travel to the other side of the world to get her.
There was only one problem. The website that stored the data recorded by her microchip wasn’t updated regularly. The last update was over a month ago. So she could be anywhere by now.
He Didn’t Know What To Do
Nathan started pinning every single location she had ever been to on a map, determined to find a trail that could point him in the right direction.
But after he saw all the countries and ports he pinned down, the severity of the matter dawned on him. He had no idea where to start or how to proceed.
Such A Long Trail
Over the last few years, a never-ending trail of locations has been collected. Nearly every single country on the planet was listed in the microchip data. And they weren’t only listed once.
Multiple countries appeared over and over again, which meant that Nathan’s search was leading him to multiple dead ends. If one country were visited regularly, he would know where to go. But in this case, there didn’t seem to be an end.
She Could Be Anywhere
From his research, Nathan concluded that Alexa must be on a boat, but which boat? And where did it make port?
Without that information, he had absolutely nothing to go on. Alexa could be anywhere in the world, and his search could turn into a lifelong mission with the rate things are going. But that night, Nathan got a lucky break.
A Strange Phone Call
As Nathan returned home, he received a call from a very serious-sounding man. The man told Nathan that he had something Nathan was looking for in his possession.
Nathan’s heart skipped a beat. He asked the man what he was talking about, but the man simply told him to meet him at the marina at 6 am the following morning.
At The Meeting Point
Nathan was a nervous wreck as he parked his car. He had never done anything like this in his life, and for all he knew, it could be a setup. But he couldn’t let such an opportunity slip through his fingers.
He got out of his car and saw five men standing in the distance. One of them looked like an official, but the rest didn’t.
He Couldn’t Believe It
Nathan cautiously approached but relaxed the minute he saw the navy uniform. The man wearing it was still young, and Nathan assumed he must’ve joined recently.
With a warm smile, the man introduced himself as Petty Officer James Ward. He informed Nathan that he had heard the story of Alexa and that the men who were with him had a gift for Nathan.
Finally Reunited
The Chinese sailors stepped aside, revealing the pitch-black Newfoundlander that had occupied Nathan’s mind for the last four years.
As it turns out, Alexa had fallen off the boat, and the sailors found her while leaving the port. They tried to call Nathan, but he didn’t understand them. So they got Alexa a passport, and she has been roaming the seas with them ever since. They had been looking for Nathan for four years.