@shepherddogmama: Maple was just a few days post-op from abdominal surgery, and this moment stopped me in my tracks. 🥹 *Watch closely. She deliberately presses *“hurt”… pauses… then presses “belly”… and quietly walks away, as if to say, “That’s all I needed to tell you.” If the words sound like they overlap a little, that’s because I recorded the button audio myself. The playback has a slight delay, so the timing isn’t always perfect—but her button presses absolutely are. My favorite part might be Clara sitting on the stairs. Without missing a beat she softly says, “I know… belly hurt.” ❤️ She has the gentlest heart with animals, and Maple clearly knows she’s listening. Moments like this are why I believe communication isn’t just about words—it’s about being heard.