Luna opened her eyes to the first hoots of mockingbirds. Mechanically, she stuffed her water bottle and review notes into her backpack. It was the last day of middle school -- exam day.

She rubbed her eyes and yawned as she jerked towards the bathroom to get dressed like every usual day. Her eyes were baggy since she had not slept one ounce in the past 24 hours. Her ordinarily smooth and silky ash-brown hair was now gruffly and rough, her lips dry and course. As she examined herself in the mirror, Luna felt lifeless in this unending routine of studying and preparing for the exam day. She sighed in relief: it would all be over today; she would graduate middle school as the top student in her grade and get into the high school of her dreams -- Riverdale Academy, the best school in Luna's town. It would have been for nothing if she hadn't gotten to the exam hall on time.

"Bye, Mom," her muffled voice said as she stuffed some loaf bread into her mouth.

"Wait, sweetie!" Luna's mom rushed over, dressed up and with a big smile on her face. "Today I'm going to drive you to your school for your exam. How about that, mmm?" 

"But mom, you haven't driven in two and half years---"

"Baby, you've worked so hard for this. Don't push yourself into these things. Mom will be alright."

"I will be late now if you drive me, Mom! How about you come to pick me up after the exams?"

"Okay, I'll wait for you outside the school gates, baby; good luck!" Luna's mom's face immediately brightened with a smile, and Luna was escorted through the gates. Luna got on the school bus and saw her mom waving at her with a beaming face until she disappeared out of sight. That was her last time seeing her mother.