Creative Writing: Sometimes You Will Never Know The Value Of Memory

The quiet breeze blew as our ship ported into the wooden dock. It was pitch black, the smog suffocated the stars so the moon was our only light as we exited the boat. We were walking down the hollow metal stairs to then go onto the cobblestone streets.

“Mom, can Zach and I go into the river while you and Dad are unpacking?” I asked.

When I got my first job as a PT aide I met Tali, the woman who would become my mentor and confidant. She was tough as nails with bright red hair, a thick Israeli accent and arms that looked like they were sculpted out of clay. I'll admit, she was the most intimidating woman I had ever met, but she was also very sweet. I had absolutely no idea what I was getting into when I was assigned to her. She had such an unorthodox way of treating patients. It was completely bizarre but also absolutely brilliant.

Although this was taken seven months ago, it feels as if it was just yesterday that my sister, Cortney, began a new stage in her life. She is no longer my bedroom neighbor just a hallway length away. The bathroom that was once shared is now only occupied by me, that bedroom next to mine remains vacant, and I am officially an only child -or so it seems. It’s crazy to believe we are already teenagers. As children, we got along much better than average siblings. We never fought, always shared clothes, and even shared friends despite the age difference. As time went on, we grew closer; making it even harder for us to be separated from each other long term. Next thing we knew, it was August 24, 2015, the time had come that Cortney was graduated and moved on to bigger and better things. My family took two cars over two hours away to say our goodbyes. Despite the fact that we did not want

He wakes up on the cold, clean surface of a table rock. A rough candelabra flickers at his side as he stirs. Next to it there's three cut roses. Red. A look around and he finds he's in a cave. At the end of one actually. The air is mossy, thick. He doesn't know why he's here or how. Worse, he doesn't know who he is or who he was. He remembers this is called amnesia.

When I arrived back at the hotel, I opened Skype on my netbook. After a few minutes of loading, my sister’s face appeared. She was so bright and cheery, and I loved her so much. She told me she missed me, and I told her that I wished I could have brought her along. When our conversation ended, I cried. Here I was at an amusement park while my little sister, who had never gone on a ride in her life, was at home. I felt like a spoiled brat. I spent $150 on the trip that could have gone to rent or to my other sister’s college tuition, so I punished myself by eating canned soup for the rest of the week.

I was incredibly excited. School was starting tomorrow. The first few days were just icebreakers, learning everyone’s names, blah blah blah. Then the real learning began. Of course, teachers started to write our lessons on the board. I started to notice a few changes in what I was seeing. The words they were writing were just...black lines! I didn’t pay much attention to it, I just asked my friends what the board said. As the year went on, it affected me more and more, especially in math. I saw a 2 as a 6, and and an A as an 8.

This is rather unfortunate because it implies the impression that after we are dead we aren’t worth remembering, not even by an animal. I do not believe this is true, because I have lots of people who have passed in my life and I still remember them; not necessarily grieving them, but I haven’t forgotten

“You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself in any direction you choose!”-Dr. Seuss. College is a choice where you chose what you want to do in life. How you want to direct yourself in succeeding in that goal. You might be someone that doesn’t chose to go to college, which is whatever because college isn’t for everyone. College brings us new opportunities in life. I was very interested in Augustana University during the college fair because they have sports, many majors, study abroad, and more!

I didn't sleep the next night, for something was missing, something that I have longed for ever since I killed the old man, I know it wasn't the fact that I missed him, but it might have been the adrenaline that I experienced as I killed him, and even after, when I was dismembering his limbs. Was that it? It must have been. I fear that insanity is advancing upon me. I must satisfy my craving for the kill. But with who? It must be someone who won't ever possibly be remembered. Course in this part of town just the littlest thing, like Mrs. Jones breaking her one of a kind Russian doll, will be observed with much care. If I choose to purge upon this town I must work surreptitiously. And that's what I will do.

Summer vacation, and school ends for about three months, and then you have as much fun as you can, then back to school… right? Well I had to go to summer school, but it wasn’t as bad as I thought it would be. Everything was going fine, I had a job after summer school, and that was going fine as well. They say that summer is supposed to be fun and exciting, and it usually is for me and my family. However in July my father started coughing up blood. My father usually doesn’t make it his top priority to go to the doctors, so he waited about four weeks until he really didn’t feel good.

Family means the world to me in every aspect, but a person that means even more then that is my sister, Jordan. She paved my life for me without me knowing; she is always there for me and believes in me when I do not believe in myself. Jordan and I very similar in the way that if we had the chance to do everything together we would take every opportunity we could get. How our relationship developed was like every pair of young sisters, we did not get along very well when we were younger because we took the days we had together for granted. The day she left for college is when it really hit me that she was the biggest inspiration in my life. What made us as close was going through our parent’s divorce, it was a life changing experience, and I would have never gotten

Reflect on a time when you challenged a belief or idea. What prompted you to act? Would you make the same decision again?

They said my name was Alyssa Hamilton, that I was 18 years old and that I was supposed to become the leader that will save our four lands. From what, is something they never spoke of. the only things I knew about myself was that I was tall and fit, with long dark brown hair. I had bright blue eyes and a small tattoo on my right shoulder blade, how it got there I have no idea. There wasn't much that I could remember other than those small and obvious details. Ever since I woke, this is how my life's been and I wasn't sure if this was what I wanted, everything just felt wrong.

“I know right”, She replies. “So, are you ready to go down to six flags?”, My Mom asked.