As the sun rose, so did her hopeful heart. 526Please respect copyright.PENANAQcprMQk1bg
She awoke with a smile, squirming beneath her sheets and showing off her pearly whites to an alarm clock that hadn't quite yet awoken. She watched in eager anticipation, waiting for it to proclaim that she could finally start her day, this long awaited day! As it finally came around to chanting its morning call, the girl slammed on the snooze button, allowing it only a moment of glory. And with joyful pride, she trotted to the bathroom to wash the sleep from her face. 526Please respect copyright.PENANAZizpvJHvAc
Dressing into her school uniform, she unwound the tight rolls on her head to admire the loose waves she had been working on all night. Usually her hair swept down past her shoulders. Now they could barely tickle the skin on the nape of her neck. 526Please respect copyright.PENANAWMv3Ep5A6m
She highlighted her features with touches of make-up before gazing at herself in the mirror. Her facial structure was from neither here nor there, and raised plenty of puzzled questions about her ethnicity from strangers, not that she really minded.526Please respect copyright.PENANAEj9WsNabfC
She smiled from ear-to-ear at the reflection, pleased with the sight, not remembering the last time she had ever felt this lighthearted. A reflexive bubble of laughter tickled up her chest, and she twirled happily before an equally bubbling bark made its way into her room. 526Please respect copyright.PENANAgWR0Pf6qQV
She turned to a brown Spanish Water Dog who was thrilled to find her so happy after days of pure glum. He ran to her gleefully, jumping onto his hind legs to greet her as she crouched down to pet his curly, woolly head. 526Please respect copyright.PENANAtwfQACgI2r
"Awe, Gizmo! You're happy, too!" she cooed to the dog, to which he answered with a sloppy kiss to her palm. 526Please respect copyright.PENANAXsRagUwlGP
There was an unnerved resettling on her bed behind her, and she turned to find the large golden eyes of an Abyssinian cat. The cat narrowed his sharp glare at the dog as they made eye contact, and he sat a bit taller on her bed pillow. 526Please respect copyright.PENANATroa94e6JA
"Spock! Gizmo was just saying ‘Good morning!'" the girl jut out her lip at the scrutinizing cat whilst still petting the panting pooch. "Won't you ever accept his kindness?" 526Please respect copyright.PENANAFsI9XtBsRL
The cat slowly blinked once before turning away, seemingly rolling his unconcerned eyes, his tail twitching in annoyance. 526Please respect copyright.PENANAk4vTRAP3QW
The girl stood and smiled gratefully at the cat before planting a kiss atop his tall head. "Thank you!" She turned back to the—now jealous—dog. "Who's hungry?" 526Please respect copyright.PENANAmaUQqAAyl0
Gizmo barked excitedly, seemingly saying "Me! Me! Oh, I am, Elizabetha! I most certainly am!" 526Please respect copyright.PENANADDsoUptQX4
Elizabetha smiled back. "You are? Then let's get some food for everybody!" 526Please respect copyright.PENANAAhYJMqJ4DL
The pooch whined dejectedly. "Everyone? No! Why not me, Elizabetha?! Me! Me!! Me!!!"526Please respect copyright.PENANAkW1kKHkGBs
The girl didn't understand a thing as she snatched the satchel from her bedpost and led the dog out the door. "Come on, Gizmo. They aren't going to feed themselves. Except Kaa. I don't think she needs to be fed today." Elizabetha turned back around to gaze at the lit aquarium hidden in the corner of her room. Then she turned back to the prideful Spock who was still atop her bed pillow. "Don't mess with Kaa, Spock. She will eat you." 526Please respect copyright.PENANAGlxBZmOdUu
The mischievous cat only blinked at her in uncaring disbelief before settling down for more sleep. 526Please respect copyright.PENANAIoHbCrJ0SK