Sandy's steps had an extra spring on it as she descended the stairs. Today, she's finally graduating from High School! Nana, her father’s mother, would be proud. Sandy has been on her own for almost a year now. Nana was practically living in her hospital room since her illness had progress. Good thing her grandmother has health insurance. The hospital bill for the past months is enough to give Sandy a heart attack.

"Meow," her Russian Blue kitten, Pollux, greeted her at the foot of the stairs.

Sandy scooped Pollux with one hand and dropped him on the kitchen counter. "Good morning, handsome.”

"Meow." Like a well-mannered gentleman, the kitten sat patiently on the counter. It's as if knowing his human is about to prepare his meal.

"Yeah, yeah. I got it. You had me wrapped around your furry little paws. I knew it the moment you flashed me those eyes when Bommie dropped you in my lap.”

Pollux came from an animal shelter where Bommie used to volunteer. He was rescued along with his litter from a dilapidated warehouse. After a week at the shelter, all of his siblings were adopted. Bommie took a liking to Pollux and wanted to adopt him but her mom is allergic to cats. So she gave Pollux to Sandy as an advance graduation gift. Since then, Pollux kept her sane when missing Nana seemed to be too much.

She opened the cupboard where the cat food was kept. A frown graced her forehead when her fingers met nothing but empty space.

"Huh? Where have all your food gone?"

"Meow. Meow."

Looking around, she found a chair and dragged it directly where the cupboard is. Her five feet and one inch height is not much of help in situations like this. She had to improvise. Now feeling seven feet tall, she began hunting for the last tin of cat food.

"Found it!"

She set Pollux down on the floor and let him eat in peace while she prepared breakfast. After the ceremony, she would drop by the hospital to see Nana. She wanted to see Nana everyday but the her grandmother wouldn't hear any of it. Nana said twice a week is enough. Sandy has school and her being sick is not an excuse for Sandy to slack off. She needs to work hard for her to earn a good GPA to get admitted to a reputable medical school.

The kitchen phone rang.

"Good morning Sandy!" a shrill voice greeted her ear.

"Good morning too, Bommie. What's up?" Sandy eyed the clock mounted on the wall. It read 6:05 AM.

The sound of running water was audible in the background. She must be in the bath room. Bommie's voice echoed once more. "I'm just checking if you're already up to make sure you won't be late. God knows you're such a slow poke."

"Yes, Mom. I won't be late." She resisted rolling her eyes. Bommie is such a nagger. "The ceremony starts at 9:00 AM, it's only past six. My house is just five hundred meters away from school."

"That’s why you're always late. You think you've got so much time just because you live near our school," Bommie scoffed.

"Quit nagging, Miss Park. I haven't had my breakfast yet you're giving already causing me indigestion."

"Alright. My bath is full now. Gotta go. Bye!"

"Bye." The line went dead. Shaking her head, she went to continue where she left off.

Fluffy golden pancakes with strawberries, a steaming cup of coffee and the morning news paper completed Sandy's breakfast menu. As she surveyed her handiwork, she felt something was missing. Ah! The breakfast table looked bare. Flowers! Nana always tells her to put flowers on the table.

With scissors in hand, Sandy pushed the door open which led to their backyard. Nana kept an herb and flower garden at the back of their house. When Nana got sick, Sandy saw to it that it was well-maintained. Nana loves her garden to bits. Everything her grandmother loves is precious for Sandy.

The old woman is her last living family as far as she is concerned. Sure, her mother has two living sisters but they were never close. She only got to see her relatives from her mother's side when her parents died from a car accident. She was nine years old then. It was Nana who raised her and made her the person she is now.

She managed to g