Bella, a beautiful golden retriever with a perpetually happy face, was not feeling very happy right now. An uncomfortable warmth had been building in her bladder for a few hours, and her state was quickly turning from comfortable to urgent. Her human had left for work this morning, promising a long walk when they returned. But the walk felt ages away, and Bella’s bladder was rapidly reaching its limit.

She’d tried everything to hold it. She’d curled up tightly on the rug, hoping compression would help. She’d laid perfectly still, trying to distract herself by staring at dust motes dancing in the sunbeams. She'd even attempted the 'statue' pose – all four paws planted firmly, tail tucked, trying to minimize movement. But the pressure was building, an anxious fullness that was starting to make her wiggle.

Each little twitch sent a shiver of anticipation – and a little leak of desperation – through her. She gave a little whine, then another, hoping her owner would magically appear. She could feel the muscles around her bladder stretching, demanding release. It was getting harder and harder to control, and she worried she might embarrass herself with a little accident right on her owner's nice, clean rug.

Then, finally, the sound of the key in the lock! Her owner was home! But Bella was so desperate, so utterly full, that she didn't bother with her usual enthusiastic greeting. She didn’t even bother with a tail wag. The moment the door swung open, she bolted.

She didn’t wait for her owner to say "Go potty!" She just flew into the alley beside their house, a golden blur of urgency. She didn't even bother with the polite circle-sniff she usually did. She just went.

Bella lifted her leg. It was unusual for her – she usually squatted, taking a moment to find just the right patch of grass. But this was no ordinary urgency. She was so full, so desperate to empty her bladder, that her body just instinctively reacted, seeking maximum release from the pressure within.

And then, the floodgates opened.

It wasn’t a delicate trickle. It was a glorious, cascading stream of golden relief. A warm, satisfying rush that poured out of her, soaking into the pavement of the alley. It felt so good, so wonderfully relieving.

The stream lasted and lasted, a long, luxurious release that went on and on. She could feel the fullness of her bladder emptying, a warm, satisfying sensation spreading through her. The sound was almost musical, a soft splashing accompanying the steady stream. It felt like she'd been holding gallons of liquid inside. It was a proper, thorough emptying, a golden waterfall painting the alley floor.

She stood there, leg lifted, letting it all go, feeling the warmth spread through her, feeling the pressure finally dissipate.

Finally, with a contented sigh, the stream slowed to a trickle and then stopped. Bella lowered her leg, a little wobbly from the sheer amount of liquid she’d released. She gave a little shake to ensure every last drop was released, and then turned back towards the door, tail wagging, ready to greet her human with a look of pure bliss on her face. She'd made it, just in the nick of time, and the alley had borne witness to a truly magnificent golden flood.