"One Of My Forever Time Hero’s" by Mekka J

     Growing up I was always a daddy's girl at heart. There was nothing that could
separate me from my dad. Not even the video games on PlayStation 3. I remember the nights he would leave to work and I would just break down crying. I thought my world was ending until he got back home that night and would say hello. My dad is a hero in my eyes not because he had mysterious magic tricks, but because of his love for my siblings and I. He was always steadfast and would be our savior when we got into trouble with our mom. Like the time I got into trouble by my mom and I ran from her as she chased me down the hall with her belt. I jumped in my dads bed and threw the cover over my body shouting “daddy save me!” 

My dad had always been a significant person in my life. He is the reason I push harder in class, on the track field, at work, and in any other thing that I get into. Yeah I mean he was tough on all four of us growing up but that was because he wanted better from us. He envisioned us going off to college and being successful unlike the rest of my family. I remember in the fourth grade I had received an award for “Perfect attendance” and he looked so displeased he said “i’m tired of yall getting these perfect attendance awards get something else like the other kids.” From that day on I worked super hard in the classroom because I wanted to shut him up; being the little brat that I am, I did. When I got the award that said most excelled student alongside three other awards my dad was so proud of me he even brought his video recorder. 

My most fondest memory of my dad was when I had turned 12 he took my siblings and I to Raging Waters for the very first. There was this ride called Drop Out and after reaching the top I didn’t want to get on. Of course my dad was the first one to go on the ride but he came back to the top because I had held up a line and refused to go on. At that moment my dad became my hero, he influenced me to go on the ride. I still remember his voice and the exact words he said to me. “Come on baby were all cheering for you, you can do it, you got this baby,” those were the most influential words my dad had ever spoken to me, and I will never forget them. 

Just at the short age of 12, my dad was taken away from me due to and endless act of racism. He had done nothing wrong, but walk in his skin that God had blessed him with. The day I found out that my dad was no longer, I was numb. I began to shut everyone out and turn away from everything, including school. I began to invest my time into things that made me feel most connected to him, such as basketball, and I would play Call of Duty World at War every day just shooting people up. I had so much hatred towards the world for about a good year or two. Every year as October 13th makes another year, my life becomes harder. This year has been one of the most challenging years for me because I am battling his absence and me growing up. I try to make the

most out of everything for him. I submitted some college applications on his anniversary and made it a positive act, but life is not easy for me now that he is gone. He will never get to call me his “Chocolate Baby” again, and he will NEVER get to walk me down the aisle. Each day I tell people goodby and depart from them with a hug or smile, because you never know when your last time will be. I remember the last time I gave him a kiss goodbye as I watched his car drive away from my house. I will forever remember you dad, until we meet again at the Golden Gate
~Love Your First Chocolate Baby.