“Young”

The guy wanted her. He really did want her. Every day he would look out the window and see her walking on the street. Rain or shine she would always walk outside on the street. She would smile no matter what. She wears a mid-length dress with flower patterns on it everyday. She holds a basket with groceries too. That must mean she goes to the market every day right? Anyways, the guy would soon start walking around the street too. He would walk, back and forth, and look everywhere for the young lady. He was never successful. And the young man would go back up to his apartment with a disappointed look. Days go by. Weeks go by. Months too. But the young man just could never find the young lady. How is it that I could see her every day, yet the young man could never find her? He must be scaring her away perhaps… It’s been months since I last saw her. I wonder what happened. The young man still tried to search for her. How embarrassing. It’s not the warm summer anymore, it’s the cold and brittle winter now. I hate winter. The young lady had been gone since summer, but I saw her. I saw her walk on the street. It was raining. She had no umbrella. She wore a different dress this time. And she had no basket with groceries. She had a man walking with her. They both look so sophisticated. They held hands too. The young man that would always look for her stopped appearing too. I figured he moved out of his apartment since he left me a note saying “I’ll be gone for a while. If you see her send me a letter. And I’ll come back.”

“Red Rainboots”

Quiet, introverted, and shy. This girl would walk around my neighborhood. I’d also see her at school. She would always wear her bright red rain boots even though it never rained. She was very noticeable. She would carry this black camera around with her, and she would stop at the most random things. How interesting… why would she take a picture of a rock? The next day at school, I’d see a picture of a rock in the hallway. Why would they put a picture of a rock? How interesting. I noticed that this girl would take pictures of every single little thing. She captured tiny moments that people would get confused by like me… She would take pictures of a worn-out basketball rolling away on the street to even this elderly couple holding hands. Her pictures would get posted around the school. Just nobody knew it was from her. Except me. I guess she found beauty in things people would overlook. The year would would come to an end. And the weather got colder. And it finally rained. On the last day of school, I saw a picture of red rain boots. But this photo was different. It had a little caption written in red pen. Saying “If you look closely, the world leaves a mark.”

“Lobsters”

To Justin Hoang, the bravest uncle ever.

He’s gone. HE IS GONE, Aunt says late at night to my parents. She is screaming through the phone. Screams that sound like a siren calling for help. I’ve never heard my Aunt cry like this before… I never would have thought my happy-go-lucky Aunt could cry. I try to listen to my Aunt but the T.V. is too loud. My parents were quiet with a look of grief and sadness across their faces. He said he was going to come back with lobsters. I told him not to go because it was too late, my Aunt says as she tries to catch her words. He went when I told him NOT TO GO. WHY. WHY. WHY… My Aunt’s voice was weeping and deteriorating. Who was she talking about I asked myself. My older brother Tyler, comes around and tells me in a serious strong whisper. It’s our uncle. It’s Uncle Justin. He died. He passed. I’ve suddenly felt everything stop. My face was shocked and nothing could describe how I was feeling. Just how. How could my uncle, who is brave, adventurous, and confident die? Just like that? Tears began to cover my eyesight, and I held them back. We are at Catalina Island right now. I don’t want to be here anymore, my aunt says. I go quiet the rest of the night. I can’t process anything. How can I sleep? …It’s been 2 years. I still think of the situation…It does sadden me. Deeply.