"The Coma" by Caroline F

            “Cat? Cat?! Catalina! Wake Up! Catalina!” Heat was radiating off the ground like a pit from Hell. Ears buzzing, head pounding, body numb. Opening my eyes only to see a blurred face. “Cat! Can you hear me?! Cat! Ca…”

As the buzz noise increased a blanket of darkness crept over my subconscious to nothingness. A dark room filled with no noise, screaming with no sound. “Hello? Can anyone hear me?” Nobody would answer, not a single soul in sight. Where am I? Why isn’t anyone here? Oh no! Mason, he was there! “Mason!”

“Hey Cat. I don’t know if you can hear me, but I still believe you are in there. No matter how many times the doctors will try to convince me you’re no hope… I am not going to let them take you away from me. I almost lost you once, I’m never going to lose you again. Babe, please wake up.” Wake up? I’m sleeping? How is that possible? Why can’t I wake up? Suddenly, the deafening sound returned, but it wasn’t buzzing, it was beeping, in a rhythmically pattern almost like a drum. Damn it Catalina wake up!

I opened my eyes in a bright room and it smelled like hand sanitizer. I look to my right and there is a strange man staring at me, as if he seen a ghost. He had curly dark brown hair, creamy brown eyes complimented by slightly thick eyebrows, firm jawline, with beautiful toasted tan skin, broad shoulders with muscular arms designed to carry the heaviest of weights but not to over barbarian on top of a long torso, he was wearing a uniform. Truth to be told, he was handsome.

“Who are you?” I said in utter confusion.

“Catalina! You’re awake! I can’t believe it! I’m going to get the doctor; Doctor Phillips!” he said as he ran out the room.   “Doctor Phillips I told you she would wake up...”

“Let’s have a look here,” the doctor turned on his flashlight and faced it toward my pupils. “Now Ms. Jimenez how are you feeling? When you first arrived here we didn’t believe that you would survive, it’s a miracle you did.”

“What?” I asked.

“Umm… you came in here almost dead. You were in an accident that hap…” the doctor was interrupted by the rude man that was here earlier.

“Excuse me? That was so rude! Doctor can you get this man out of my room please?! I don’t know him.”

“You don’t remember me?” the confused man said.

“Ms. Jimenez, does this mean you don’t know who this man is?”

“No I don’t, now can you please get him out of my room,” I said annoyed. I didn’t understand why this guy is still in here and why he wouldn’t leave.

“May I talk to you outside for a minute,” Doctor Phillips said with a slight concerned tone.

“Um... yeah sure thing doc.” The two men finally left the room. I was in an accident? What could I have been doing that got me into a hospital? I was probably with Katy, I remember the first time we started to become cynical. Back in 2009, freshman year of high school, we snuck into the football stadium and lit the turf on fire! We didn’t get caught, although a senior got blamed for it, and sadly that senior didn’t walk at graduation, oh well. We were so mean! Speaking of Katy, shouldn’t she be here instead of that man.

“Cat?” the guy returned. “Do you really not remember me?”  I could see the hurt in his eyes, almost like he wanted to cry.

“No I don’t, can someone please tell me what is going on here?” I said.

“Cat… I’m your fiancé, Mason Lopez. We were supposed to get married this summer.” he said. Fiancé?! I looked at my left hand there it was, a twisted halo diamond ring with a gold band decorated with more diamonds, it was striking.

“How did I get here?” I asked

“You were in an accident babe.”

“Don’t call me that, please.” As I said that he looked as if struck in the heart by the devil himself. “What kind of accident? Where is Katy?”

“I’m sorry ba… Um…There was a bombing at the bank you worked at. The bomb exploded right next to you, it’s unbelievable that you’re alive. I found you under all the debris. And for Katy, your friendship crumbled after she became destructive, I’m sorry but she was the one who put the bomb in the bank that almost killed you. She is in jail as we speak.”

How the hell is that possible! Katy and I are not friends anymore?! I am engaged to this man who looks like he could be the sheriff. I’m engaged to the sheriff. What happened in my life?

“The reason you can’t remember me,” he continued, “you hit your head pretty hard during the explosion. The doctors couldn’t be sure if you were to lose your memory, but you fell into a coma and have been asleep for about five months.”

“Where are my parents?” I say.

“They are back in California they come every now and then to visit.”

“So let me get this straight. Katy and I are not friends anymore and she was the one who put the bomb in the bank that could have killed me and you’re my fiancé that I’m supposed to get married in the summer?”

“Exactly.” He said. For days he would come to visit, until I was released. He updated me with what has happened over the past couple of months. He seemed so sincere and genuine, and he got me to laugh. Although I lost five months of my life, I have a chance to start my life all over again. I am going to find out what really happened between me and Katy. But for now, I will be here falling madly in love with Mason, again.

"A Little Help from Santa " by Dulce C

            The holidays were something she always looked forward to and during the holidays, all the bad thoughts seemed to have disappeared. No matter how sick he was, everyone was confident he was going to make it at least until the New Year. The cancer had spread to his nose now, his body weakening and the illness had definitely taken its toll. She was only seven and she had not yet comprehended what exactly was going on. She knew daddy was sick, but not with a cold, he went to the hospital for it and got some medicine to make him feel better and she knew that because every time she asked him he told her he was feeling better with each day that passed. She would always want to cuddle up next to him in bed any chance that she could. She would get a little antsy in bed sometimes and make him feel nausea, but only because it was one of the side effects from his medication. Whenever that would happen, she would feel terrible, like it was her fault daddy was not feeling well. He would always look at her, too weak to explain that it was not her fault at all, aimlessly shaking his head when she would apologize to him. Aside from all this, he always put a smile on his face and never made his condition seem nearly as bad as it actually was. Christmas Eve approached and a week or so before the holiday he wanted to get out of bed, a sudden burst of energy came over him as he tried getting out of bed himself. Mom frantically helped him as he tried walking independently for the first time in five months. He settled on the couch downstairs, on the side closest to the chimney. He was even weaker than he had ever been, almost as if the trip out of bed and down the stairs had taken the last of him. He was unable to sit up on his own anymore and needed help doing almost everything. He wanted to sleep by himself downstairs on Christmas Eve, so he did. Now, Christmas morning was as all the other ones had been in years past, they all walked down stairs together to enjoy each others' company along with all that was under the tree. Walking into the living room where the couch was they were all shocked to see what was in front of them. He had sat up on the couch, without any help and the most genuine smile any of them had seen in months. She was just happy that daddy was looking a lot better. She still very much believed in Santa Claus and with all the presents under the tree, there was no reason for her not to. When they all asked him how he managed to sit up by himself, he said he had a little help from Santa. The milk she left out that night before had been drunk and the cookies had been eaten. She knew daddy had not able to keep any real food down in months. Santa had to have helped him up. There was no doubt in her mind about it.

That would be his last Christmas and Kevin Arthur Congo passed away December 30, 2005 leaving his daughter, son, and wife behind not by choice but at the mercy of a terminal illness.  I still do have some belief in Santa Claus, I will admit. Nothing else would lead me to believe otherwise than what happened that Christmas morning, witnessing a true miracle. 

"The Girl" by Michelle T

     One foggy night, a girl name Sally was jogging around the neighborhood. As she was jogging, she got a phone call from her mom. Sally stopped jogging and answer her phone. As she put the phone up to her ear, she heard a scream. Suddenly, the call ended. Sally ran home as fast as she could. Finally, Sally arrived at her house, Sally went inside and open the door. As she opened the door and went inside the house, she see a man dragging her mom and dad to the floor. Sally is in shock, she couldn’t move at all. Suddenly, Sally let out a scream. Then, the man turned around and see Sally standing there. He put her parents down on the floor, and slowly walked up to Sally. Sally wanted to run, but she can’t. Since, she is in shock after what she just saw. The man looked at Sally closely, then suddenly put his hand on her mouth. Sally opened her mouth and bit him. The man let out a scream. Suddenly, Sally ran out to the door. She’s running on the street yelling for help, but no one hear her. Following from behind her, the man chase her. As Sally was running, a car came and suddenly ran over her. The man stopped running and stand out on the street. The driver went out of his car and called for an ambulance. On the other side of the street, the man looked closely at the girl. The ambulance had arrived and took Sally to the hospital. The man looked at the name of the ambulance to see what hospital are they taking her. As the ambulance took off, the man ran over to the driver and knocked him out. He opened the car door and went inside. Then he sat down in the car seat, and start to drive. He followed the ambulance in front of him. Finally, the ambulance and the man arrived at the hospital. While Sally is being taken in the hospital, the man waited inside his car. Sally was being taken in the emergency room and the doctors performed surgery on her. As time passes, the doctors is finally done. The surgery was a success. The nurses took Sally into a room. Suddenly, Sally opened her eyes. She didn’t know where she is, so she asked one of the nurses. The nurses told her she is at the hospital. Suddenly, Sally had to go to the restroom. Meanwhile, as the man waited inside the car. He finally got out of the car and went inside the hospital. The man searched for Sally, but no sign of her. Then, he saw her coming out of the restroom. He went behind Sally and followed her from behind. Sally went inside the room, but as she looked behind to close the door. She saw the man right in front of her eyes. Sally let out a scream, but the man quickly put his hand on her mouth. The man slowly put his hands in his pocket and slowly grabbed a knife. Then, he slit Sally’s throat with one big cut across her throat. Sally suddenly fell on the floor covering with blood. The man stares at her, then put the knife, covered in blood, in his pocket. He slowly walked out of the room and slowly exit the hospital. As he exit the hospital, he comes across a trash can right outside the hospital. He walked over to the trash can and reached into his pocket. He grabbed the knife and throw it in the trash can to hide the evidence. He went over to the car and went inside. As he sat down, he let out a big sigh. Finally, he start the car and begin to drive.

"Love at first sight" By Calaya A

No, I don’t believe in love at first sight. Many people think that they fall in love when they lay their eyes on someone. But the thing is you don’t even know anything about them. People can be very dangerous but they can seem very friendly on the outside. You wouldn’t know that until you actually get to know them. I have never heard of love at first sight. Many movies show love at first sight, for example: Romeo and Juliet it shows Romeo as he locks his eyes on such a beautiful woman that he wants to marry. Although after he sees Juliet he is absolutely in love with her. He decides to meet her and they marry the next day. Thy really do love each other but there is a big problem, their families hate each other. At the end of this story of Romeo and Juliet it comes to an end where the new married couple both die. “Love at first sight” ends in terrible solutions. You never really see love at first sight in real life. Now, we usually go on dates to get to know the person you “love”.  Anything can happen with love, it’s very hard to find it now a days. Nobody really knows what love is. People say that love is a deeper feeling you have for someone. Do you believe that? I believe that you can fall in love with someone over time, but you can’t look at someone and immediately fall in love with him or her. I also think that people who think they are in love might be misunderstanding it for liking someone. You might look at someone and think, “ wow! I love him/her.” But really you think they are cute or like them. You never know right away if you are in love. I never realized how much everyone thinks that love is so important. Yes of course you love you mom, dad, and your family but the main thing is that our age is too young. We are way to young to know what love is. At this age everyone is in “love”. They think love is something that if you don’t have it you are alone. By alone I mean you don’t have people that like you or in a relationship with other people. Love at first sight doesn’t exist because it takes time to get to know someone. Over time people develop feelings for someone while in the beginning you like them. Some people believe that if you are in a relationship for over a year you must be meant to be. Although you might think that the only thing that you have is a strong liking for each other. You never really are in love until maybe you are with them for three years or longer. That is when you know you love someone. Together you went through ups and downs but still stayed with each other. That is the only true love I believe in. Some cases might be that you love them and get married but that marriage might not work out. Lots of people get married when they are younger and they end in most cases getting a divorce. Usually most cases are when a married couple has kids, got married and get divorced. That’s when you don’t really love each other and how you but your children in a situation. Love is never a for sure thing you never really know if you in love with someone. What do you think? Do you believe in live at first sight?       

"December" by Katlyn H

       The month of December is a great month because there is Christmas and New Year’s and also Hanukkah. The month of December is when it is cold and the snow starts sticking to the ground. Many people fly in to see their families and some to see their friends. In this month you just want to be home for the holidays. December is the last month of the year and after that a brand new year starts, a brand new beginning.

My favorite days of December is the day you go to the store to get Christmas lights to hang them up, you get to put ornaments up, but before that  you need to get a tree. The smell of cinnamon candles burning, and seeing the flames of the fire, also drinking hot chocolate is very relaxing. On Christmas Eve my family and I have a tradition to watch “Christmas Vacation” it has been something we have done since I was a little girl. December is a cold and rainy month the weather makes you want to curl up in bed and just watch TV or even fall asleep. On Christmas Day you wake up and go run to your parent’s room to wake them up and then you run down stairs and see the tree and the presents underneath, and how the lights glisten off of them it makes you feel like a little kid.

     A few days later you have New Year’s Eve, then New Year’s Day. New Year’s Eve you stay up until midnight and at midnight you get to hear everybody celebrating. My family and I go outside and bang pans together and scream “HAPPY NEW YEAR’S!!!!!” that night you go to sleep and when you wake up it’s a brand new year for a new start. So start out the New Year great and maybe it will go a lot better than the last. I love it on New Year’s night you see the ball in Times Square Drop, and saying this I wish you a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.

"Finals" by Evanne T

As a freshman I see finals as a huge test that goes over a semester of curriculum to see if you actually know what you are learning. Most of my teachers have given me study tools but it seems as if I will never be able to memorize the whole sheet. The closer the days come to finals the more test my teachers have been giving me. I do not what goes through a teachers mind when they say we have a test next week on half of the semester’s curriculum. My theory on why teachers give test before finals is to boost some kid’s grades that need it. I do not really see any positive effects out of finals unless you do well on any of the finals. Many seniors that I have talked say finals are not that bad after your first couple of finals. From the past few weeks I learned that finals take away precious sleep, time for studying. It also adds major stress that is not needed. When I first heard that Spanish has three finals I almost passed out from shock. I understand why there is three finals but if I know how to speak Spanish there is an 80% chance that I know how to write it. As I begin to study even harder for each subject my teacher teaches a new lesson so I have to add it to the list to study for. Some of my teachers are trying add in chapters so we are not behind other classes but they skim through some lessons so then missing some of the information that will most likely be on the final. A couple of my teachers wait to the day of the test to teach the class a key part in the subject and expect everyone to memorize immediately the information, but when more than half the class gets that part of the test wrong it is a problem. So hopefully the teachers do not have any last minute lessons before the final. It seems as if some of my friends are not studying they get and I’m studying like a maniac. It is more so how well you are doing in that class or some people just don’t care. The closer it gets to finals some days I feel like I have study for the whole then other nights I know I feel like that I can get a high grade in every class. The only good thing that comes from finals is that you get to leave early. For each final they are two hours long, are the finals that long to where it takes two hours to finish. As a student athlete it is very important that I do well on all my final so that I will not become ineligible. Because with ineligibility I will not be able to play this season. Being a student athlete means that my grades come before my sport. Another reason why finals make students stress out is because it could take away their extracurricular activities. But really finals are just a test to show what you have learned this semester, the only way to get through the stress is to have good study habits. Good luck to everyone on their finals.