{"id":2792,"date":"2016-03-29T09:00:46","date_gmt":"2016-03-29T16:00:46","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/pasadena-library.net\/teens\/?p=2792"},"modified":"2016-04-04T15:09:50","modified_gmt":"2016-04-04T22:09:50","slug":"the-operation-of-love-story-by-eliyah-sims","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/pasadena-library.net\/teens\/2016\/the-operation-of-love-story-by-eliyah-sims\/","title":{"rendered":"“The Operation of Love” — story by Eliyah Sims"},"content":{"rendered":"

One City One Story 2016 Writing Contest: \u201cA Vivid Memory\u201d<\/p>\n

Honorable mention<\/p>\n

Category 3: Grades 9-12<\/p>\n

\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cThe Operation of Love\u201d<\/p>\n

by Eliyah Sims<\/p>\n

Grade 11<\/p>\n

Pasadena Youth Build<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

I\u2019d sing a song in December just to remember you.<\/p>\n

I was 16 when I first laid eyes on you; my parents told me you\u2019d eat me alive. A truth rang in the obvious lie. You definitely did eat me alive with your eyes. You said it was important to be proud. You told me stories about the poor\u2026 People like you, people like me.<\/p>\n

No one understood. 16 and 36 don\u2019t fit. They\u2019re not pieces meant to be. Like a flower that blooms I opened up for you, but you didn\u2019t notice. You were too busy being 36 while I tried to catch up.<\/p>\n

I was nothing without you. I hung on your every word. I danced in the rain for you, and like a snake sheds skin, I shed my former self to become a new me just for you. I dressed to impress and was always on time, but of course the feeling faded over time. 16 to 17 to 18 and on. Boyfriend after boyfriend dumped because they couldn\u2019t compare to a love I couldn\u2019t share. A love so one sided some would question my sanity. I just wanted you.<\/p>\n

I remember running to school just to get to your class early. I sat in front just to look into your eyes, People would call it a crush and some would question my sanity. I just wanted you.<\/p>\n

I remember running to school just to get to your class early. I sat in front just to look into your eyes, People would call it a crush and maybe that\u2019s what it was\u2026 I knew the image I was casting.<\/p>\n

Ass kisser.<\/p>\n

Teacher\u2019s pet.<\/p>\n

I didn\u2019t care, I still think about it sometimes, how a young girl could fall for someone so much older. I sit in front of my house. I have grandchildren running around inside. Somehow, I still find time to think\u2026 what is love?<\/p>\n

Is it blind? Is it kind, mean, deaf? Is it waiting in the rain? Is it being truthful no matter what?<\/p>\n

I\u2019m married now, but I sit here and wonder\u2026 what is love? Do I love my husband? I can say I loved you\u2026 As a child could fiercely and strongly because that\u2019s the only way they know how. I was a blank canvas and I handed you the brush to pain\u2026 crush or not\u2026 Would I be who I am today if it wasn\u2019t for you?<\/p>\n

Now will you sit down and think about it\u2026 cuddle up to the fire on a rainy night and think about it?<\/p>\n

What is love?<\/p>\n

Will you call on your lover and ask them\u2026 what is love???<\/p>\n

Is it blind?<\/p>\n

Is it pain?<\/p>\n

Is it sorrow?<\/p>\n

Is it dying for someone?<\/p>\n

Or living?<\/p>\n

Or is it much simpler than that?<\/p>\n

Is it a feeling deep in your chest when you look at them?<\/p>\n

An uncontrollable smile<\/p>\n

Is it just a feeling that words can barely describe<\/p>\n

Is love just plain love?<\/p>\n

\n

View: \u00a0One City One Story Contest 2016 Winners<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

One City One Story 2016 Writing Contest: \u201cA Vivid Memory\u201d Honorable mention Category 3: Grades 9-12   \u201cThe Operation of Love\u201d by Eliyah Sims Grade 11 Pasadena Youth Build   I\u2019d sing a song in December just to remember you. I was 16 when I first laid eyes on you; […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":34,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[28],"tags":[92,42],"class_list":["post-2792","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-writing","tag-contest","tag-poetry"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p5ZwbD-J2","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":6165,"url":"http:\/\/pasadena-library.net\/teens\/2020\/emelina-hakhnazaryan\/","url_meta":{"origin":2792,"position":0},"title":"\u201cA Dream Becoming a Nightmare\u201d by Emelina Hakhnazaryan","author":"Jane Gov","date":"December 31, 2020","format":false,"excerpt":"Dream Catcher Story Contest Honorable Mention (Category 2: grades 6-8) \u00a0 \u201cA Dream Becoming a Nightmare\u201d by Emelina Hakhnazaryan Age 12, Grade 7 \u00a0 I shut my eyes For the night\u2019s rest. 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