Emma had always wanted a dog. Ever since she was a little girl, she had dreamed of having a furry friend to play with, cuddle with, and love. She had begged her parents for a dog, but they had always said no. They said that dogs were too expensive, too messy, too noisy, too much work.

Emma was heartbroken, but she never gave up hope. She read books about dogs, watched movies about dogs, drew pictures of dogs. She even made a list of names for her future dog, hoping that one day, her wish would come true.

On her tenth birthday, Emma woke up with a smile. She had a feeling that this was going to be a special day, a day that would change her life. She ran downstairs, eager to see what her parents had prepared for her.

She was greeted by a festive scene. The living room was decorated with balloons, streamers, and banners. A large cake with ten candles was on the table, along with a pile of wrapped presents. Her parents were waiting for her, smiling and clapping.

"Happy birthday, sweetheart!" they said, hugging her.

Emma thanked them, and looked around. She noticed that there was one present that was bigger than the others, and that it was moving slightly. She felt a surge of excitement, and a flicker of hope.

She ran to the big present, and tore off the wrapping paper. She gasped as she saw what was inside.

It was a dog.

A beautiful golden retriever puppy, with soft fur, floppy ears, and bright eyes. It wagged its tail, licked her face, and barked happily.

Emma couldn't believe it. She had finally gotten her wish. She had finally gotten a dog.

She hugged the puppy, and cried tears of joy.

"Thank you, thank you, thank you!" she said, over and over, to her parents.

They smiled, and hugged her back.

"You're welcome, honey. We know how much you wanted a dog, and we thought you were ready for one. We found this little guy at the shelter, and he was looking for a home. We thought he would be perfect for you."

Emma looked at her parents, and felt a wave of gratitude. They had given her the best gift ever, a gift that would change her life. They had given her a friend, a companion, a family member.

They had given her a dog.

She looked at the puppy, and felt a burst of love. He was the cutest thing she had ever seen, and he was hers. She knew that they would have many adventures together, and that they would be best friends forever.

She kissed the puppy, and whispered in his ear.

"I love you, Max. You're my dog, and I'm your girl."

Max barked, and wagged his tail.

He loved her too.