Because my daughter, Nonno, is here...

I currently live in a detached house with just Nonno. For a 24-year-old single person, it might be a slightly unusual sight.

I met Nonno about three years ago, and as a fourth-year university student at the time, I agonized for two weeks over whether to start living with her. You might think, "Only two weeks?" but those two weeks were truly long. I, who usually make decisions in an instant, agonized for two weeks. When I thought about her entire life and my own future, I simply couldn't decide easily. In the end, I made the decision on my own. However, I kept bringing Nonno home a secret from my family. About a month after I brought Nonno home, I decided to tell my mother. I was extremely nervous even over the phone as I started the conversation with, "You know..." My mother couldn't hide her anxiety at my unusual tone of voice. I told her straight out, "I've started keeping a dog." Then, my mother just said to me, "Take responsibility and look after her until the end." I cannot forget the weight of those words, which were completely different from anything she had said before, as she neither denied nor affirmed it. I'm sure I will never forget it for the rest of my life.

Now, about three years have passed since then, and Nonno, who was three months old at the time, has turned three years and six months old. Recently, I have become very conscious of Nonno's "lifespan." I was conscious of Nonno's lifespan from the beginning, but I have come to think about it even more. It is no exaggeration to say that I think only of Nonno every day so that when she eventually goes to heaven, she will feel that it was good to be with Mom and that she had a fun life. I cannot suppress my "love" for Nonno. Even though she cannot speak, I believe I understand most of what she is thinking. Whether Nonno is happy, having fun, angry, or lonely, everything about her is precious. She is my one and only irreplaceable existence. To me, she is my daughter and the one I have sworn to protect for the rest of my life. No matter how hard work is, I can do my best and hold on for Nonno's sake. There are mountains of things I want to convey in this text. I think there are things I haven't been able to convey fully. But what I want to convey most is that my love for Nonno is incredible. And that love is amazing. I, who used to mock love, have learned the importance of love. Nonno taught me. Thank you, Nonno. And to everyone who supports Nonno and me, I send my love and gratitude with a big "Thank you."