Allie's Gift

On the 10th hour of the last day of June, the twenty graduates of Nahanam Maritime University made their processional march towards the school's graduation hall.

Inspired and moved by the melancholic graduation march by Edward Elgar, Allie made the first step nervously into the red velvet carpet as the holder of the highest honor, summa cum laude. Dressed in her black graduation toga paired with its black academic cap with gold tassel hanging sideways, she was a vision of beauty and excellence.

Hayri came up tearfully next to her as the magna cum laude recipient, brooding upon the fact that his daddy was not around to witness this great accomplishment of his. Yet, when he looked at Allie before him, his heart swelled with great pride and gratitude. If not because of her, he wouldn't see this great day of his life.