Tides of the Heart by Dave Henderson

I’ve been a lot of things in my life—a friend, a soldier, a survivor, a man haunted by shadows. But, I never expected to be in a small coastal town. I was trying to piece together the fragments of a life shattered by war. Brookings, Oregon, was supposed to be a quiet place to hide away, but instead, it became the stage for a story I never saw coming.

It all started with a wounded German Shepherd—Shadow. He barged into my life, all paws and pain, just when I thought I had nothing left to give. And then there was Jordan, the town’s kind-hearted veterinarian with a secret of his own. He’s got this smile that could light up the darkest night, but he’s been living in silence, literally. A hearing disorder kept him isolated, just as my PTSD kept me locked in my own head.
We were two broken men, hiding from the world until Shadow brought us together. I never imagined a dog could mend two broken souls. But there we were, caring for this brave creature and finding solace in each other. Jordan, with his gentle hands and empathetic eyes, slowly became my anchor. And somehow, through runs on the beach and quiet moments, we started to heal—not just Shadow, but ourselves.
Before I knew it, this town, this life, became something worth fighting for. Jordan showed me that even in the darkest times, there’s a way out, a way to live and love again. But let’s not get too sappy—because this journey wasn’t all smooth sailing. We faced our demons, both from the past and the ones we created in our heads. Yet, standing by each other’s side, we found strength in vulnerability and love in the least expected places.

So here’s the thing: Brookings gave me more than a fresh start. It gave me Jordan, Shadow, and a family I never thought I’d have. And in the end, it turns out that maybe, just maybe, we saved each other