We all made it to the top which was actually quite uncomfortable to sit on. We didn’t care though, the arch was facing the water so we were mesmerized. Imagine this, being surrounded with the people you love most in the world, in your favorite place. I don’t know about you but that was perfect for me. I love a pretty view. Being high up, hearing the waves all around you and seeing the building straight across from you. It felt surreal, the sky was dark but lit up with stars, the moon was full and bright as ever. I look over at Jaslyn and see her smiling. We make eye contact and she starts to cry. We all notice and she tells us, “when I leave don’t be sad, instead remember this very moment, these are tears of joy. You guys mean the world to me and I’m glad I got to spend my last summer with you guys. This is the happiest I’ve ever been”. When she said that, ughh the warmth I felt come into my heart and flow through my body. I wanted to bottle that feeling up and keep it forever. Alas things don’t work that way, I did however take pictures which I will keep forever but it’s not the same. We stayed there for about two hours, enjoying the view, talking, laughing, and crying. We didn’t want this moment to end but it was time to go home. Once we got back we all parted ways and Jaslyn slept over at my house that night. We decided we wanted to tell eachother our favorite memories that we’ve had. There was so much crying but it was honestly very therapeutic. Some words were said and we realized that we are better for one another and we’re glad to have met each other.

July, Friday the 13th was the worst night of my life and I’m about to tell you why. Imagine this, you wake up to what feels like the perfect day. Sun shining through the windows and the birds chirping a tune that for some reason sounds familiar. I look to the right of my bed and there I see Patricia, my beautiful wife. Seeing her makes my heart melt like a popsicle on a hot summer day. Or at least that’s what it used to feel like. 

Patricia was always happy and very kind hearted. She wouldn’t even hurt a fly. So when it was announced on the news that she committed suicide, it was a bit of a shock for everyone. But I’m getting ahead of myself. Let’s start Wednesday the 11th, I woke up to the smell of bacon and pancakes, my favorite. I go downstairs and breakfast is served with apple juice on the side. All I could think was wow, I’m really blessed to have this girl in my life. She starts to tell me that she has to go on a work trip this weekend. I didn’t think anything of it so I said have fun. I wasn’t aware of the amount of fun that she was going to have if she had gone. My schedule is pretty much the same everyday, I leave at 6:30 A.M and I don’t get back home until 10 P.M. I like sticking to that schedule unless I am really tired and just want to go home but I usually text Patricia beforehand so she can have the food ready. However my phone had died so I didn’t tell Patricia anything. 

sunset

Amazing view 

Like a painters pallet 

colors blended, oh I wonder

Unique 

It all started during quarantine, everyone had nothing better to do than to be on social media all day. Then the worst happened, all over the news, George Floyd, an African-American man murdered by a police officer during an arrest. One of four police officers who arrived on the scene, knelt on Floyd’s neck and back for 9 minutes and 29 seconds which resulted in his death. I though is this what this world has come to. So blinded by a color that we don’t realize that we are the same. We may not look or act the same but we are all made up of the same things. I am no different than George yet he is dead and I remain. (may he rest in peace) I was filled with so much rage and somethig just kept telling me to write out what I was feeling, so I did.

Police brutality

They have different mentalities

Shootin people around like it’s casualty

I walk a mile it stays the same

This stop and frisk shyt everyday

It’s cause they’re black

That shyt is wack

Yeah yeah yeah

Police brutality

Police brutality

Police brutality

Police brutality

People dying for no reason

Cops is lying their the demons

Got their tasers, got their guns

Got you and me on the run

They havin fun

Oh shyt we’re done

Yea this war has just begun

I wrote this piece and it was as if a weight was lifted off of my shoulders. Not only did I find a way of venting but I also found a way to understand myself more. Putting these words on a page made me realize how dire the situation actually was. After this i completely fell in loove with writing. Theres certain things that i just cant wait to write down, and I’m so glad that police brutality was one of them. If it wasn’t because of this situation then i would’ve never found my current form of venting and coping.

Allison Chavez