Girl bursts into tears after seeing her late pet goat mentioned in her favorite author's dedication

In a Reddit post shared by u/HammyBurrger, a woman recalled how a bestselling author named Doc, who was also a close friend and mentor, dedicated his fourth book to her late pet goat without ever being asked. The gesture left her in tears. "Today marks two years since my very good friend, Doc, passed away. I want to tell a story of the kindest thing he, and pretty much anyone else, has ever done for me," she wrote.

Their friendship began through writing — she had been a passionate fan of his work, constantly contributing through encouraging comments and fan art. He was bound to notice her, and they grew close after she won a fan fiction contest. "He quickly became a writing mentor for me and one of my biggest supporters," she said. In 2021, she started working on a farm, where she bonded with a baby goat who imprinted on her. "I named him Atlas and called him my 'baby boy.’" Despite having a biological mother, the goat formed a strong attachment to her, which seemed unusual but turned out to be lucky for the girl.

Atlas lived with her for four months before he passed away due to "a genetic deformation." "I was devastated," she wrote. Doc was one of the few people who had received photos and updates about Atlas. When she told him about the loss, he offered kind words and support. A few months later, Doc published his fourth book. She was reading a digital version and hadn’t seen the physical copy until Doc mentioned it, saying, "I hope you were ok with the dedication!! I know how much he meant to you and wanted to honor him in the (book) universe." When she replied, "Wait, what? I haven't seen the book," he realized why, "Oh right, you're reading on Reddit!!" and sent her a photo of the page.

It read: "In Memory of Atlas." "I, of course, sobbed. I had never asked him to do anything like that, and I never would have expected him to," she wrote. When she thanked him, he said, "Since you loved Atlas and he loved you, he was the one for the book!" She added, "I have that book sitting on my nightstand, next to a photo of Atlas." Two years later, Doc passed away unexpectedly. "This is one of the first memories I bring to mind to smile and remind myself how lucky I was (and still am) to have had him as a friend," she said.

Now a writer herself, she shared one of her "greatest goals," saying, "I have to publish a book with the dedication ‘In Memory of Doc.’ He changed my life for the better, and I want to tell the world." Kindness like that has lasting effects. In a 2006 study published in the Journal of Happiness Studies, researchers found that people who simply counted their acts of kindness for one week became noticeably happier and more grateful.

The post touched a lot of readers, and they shared their heartfelt thoughts in the comments. u/sqqueen2 said, "Aw, this is so kind it’s giving me a lump in my throat. RIP Doc and Atlas. I hope they, and you, all know how much love you all have." u/javel1 wrote, "He knew what Atlas meant to you and giving him recognition shows how much Doc loved you. What a kind and beautiful soul." u/Existing_Loan4868 added, "Ooooh wow, just WOW. In such a time of rampant unkindness, a story like yours is a great reminder that kindness does survive. Many thanks."