{"id":2737,"date":"2016-03-19T16:12:00","date_gmt":"2016-03-19T23:12:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/pasadena-library.net\/teens\/?p=2737"},"modified":"2016-03-21T15:38:00","modified_gmt":"2016-03-21T22:38:00","slug":"vivid-memory-by-marlene-romero-cortez","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/pasadena-library.net\/teens\/2016\/vivid-memory-by-marlene-romero-cortez\/","title":{"rendered":"“Vivid Memory” –story by Marlene Romero-Cortez"},"content":{"rendered":"

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

1st<\/sup> place<\/p>\n

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

\n

\u201cVivid Memory\u201d<\/p>\n

by Marlene Romero-Cortez<\/p>\n

Grade 9<\/p>\n

Blair High School<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

On February 2, 2016, I was informed my aunt, Lydia, was diagnosed with Sarcoma. I was the type of cancer that began in the blood vessels and muscle. It had been excruciatingly hot in my house and I\u2019d been lounging around all day. The day was passing by and it had already come to midday when my mom\u2019s phone rang. She had just prepared lunch and was setting the table while my brother was being annoying as usual. She answered the phone in her cheerful tone and then landed her eyes on me. Gazing up at her, I had known something hadn\u2019t been right. Her face masked with worry as she ended the call. I asked her what was wrong. My mom shook her head and said nothing and continued setting the table.<\/p>\n

At 12:10 in the morning on February 2, 2016, I found my mom sitting quietly on the brown loveseat. I had just made myself a bowl of cereal due to lack of sleep. She was crying and I knew it had something to do with the phone call she had received. I felt sick to my stomach, since we had already gone through the passing of my grandfather. My dad had yet to come home because of his late shift. I sat next to her and she smiled at me, then told me the very distressing news. We sat there in silence, and somehow the silence seemed to connect us in a way words could not.<\/p>\n

February 16, 2016 was our first visit to see my aunt in the hospital. It had been ninety-one degrees and an hour long drive. The hospital smelled of lavenders and had blinding white walls that reflected from the lights. The receptionist wore red glasses and a black attire. She informed my family that Lydia was on the third floor, room thirty-six. We packed ourselves in the small elevator with another family who, as they chatted on their way, went up to the third floor as well. Complete coincidence. My aunt\u2019s room was slightly decorated with small red hearts and had \u201ctlc<\/em>\u201d printed on the window. There were various tubes connected to her. She looked physically and mentally drained. The small faint sound of the monitor filled the air. I\u2019d never felt so helpless in my life, knowing there was nothing I could do but sit and observe. My mom held my aunt\u2019s hand as they conversed and I silently watched not knowing what to say. Her hair was darker and lost weight. Her eyes carried dark bags beneath them. The she motioned me over, gave me a hug, and squeezed me tightly, then whispered, \u201cEstoy bien, mija, estoy bien, Mira<\/em>.\u201d She kissed my cheek and her lips were slightly chapped and smelled of lavender. Although she said she was fine, I knew better.<\/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 1st place Category 3: Grades 9-12 \u201cVivid Memory\u201d by Marlene Romero-Cortez Grade 9 Blair High School   On February 2, 2016, I was informed my aunt, Lydia, was diagnosed with Sarcoma. I was the type of cancer that began in […]<\/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],"class_list":["post-2737","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-writing","tag-contest"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p5ZwbD-I9","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":2705,"url":"https:\/\/pasadena-library.net\/teens\/2016\/one-city-one-story-contest-winners\/","url_meta":{"origin":2737,"position":0},"title":"One City One Story Contest Winners","author":"Jane Gov","date":"March 19, 2016","format":false,"excerpt":"The Pasadena Public Library is pleased to announce\u00a0the\u00a0One City One Story 2016\u00a0Art and Writing Contest winners! Photos by Catherine Hany \u00a0 The winning entries were honored during an award ceremony followed by a reception on March 19, 2016.\u00a0The winning entries are\u00a0currently displayed\u00a0at Central Library in the Great Hall, and will\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Agendas & News"","block_context":{"text":"Agendas & News","link":"https:\/\/pasadena-library.net\/teens\/category\/agendas-news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/pasadena-library.net\/teens\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/18\/files\/sites\/18\/2016\/03\/contest_title.png?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/pasadena-library.net\/teens\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/18\/files\/sites\/18\/2016\/03\/contest_title.png?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/pasadena-library.net\/teens\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/18\/files\/sites\/18\/2016\/03\/contest_title.png?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/pasadena-library.net\/teens\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/18\/files\/sites\/18\/2016\/03\/contest_title.png?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":2741,"url":"https:\/\/pasadena-library.net\/teens\/2016\/a-vivid-memory-by-raizel-osorio\/","url_meta":{"origin":2737,"position":1},"title":"“A Vivid Memory” –story by Raizel Osorio","author":"Teen Blogger","date":"March 19, 2016","format":false,"excerpt":"One City One Story 2016 Writing Contest: \u201cA Vivid Memory\u201d 3rd place Category 3: Grades 9-12 \u201cA Vivid Memory\u201d by Raizel Osorio Grade 9 Blair High School \u00a0 Paris. My dream was to go to Paris. For my 8th grade promotion, my parents bought me a trip to Europe with\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Writing"","block_context":{"text":"Writing","link":"https:\/\/pasadena-library.net\/teens\/category\/writing\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":2796,"url":"https:\/\/pasadena-library.net\/teens\/2016\/a-vivid-memory-story-by-alana-connor\/","url_meta":{"origin":2737,"position":2},"title":"“A Vivid Memory” — story by Alana Connor","author":"Teen Blogger","date":"March 30, 2016","format":false,"excerpt":"One City One Story 2016 Writing Contest: \u201cA Vivid Memory\u201d Honorable mention Category 3: Grades 9-12 \u00a0 \u201cA Vivid Memory\u201d by Alana Connor Grade 11 Blair High School \u00a0 It was nearing the end of the day and the sun was setting, cast low in the sky and steadily disappearing\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Writing"","block_context":{"text":"Writing","link":"https:\/\/pasadena-library.net\/teens\/category\/writing\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":2770,"url":"https:\/\/pasadena-library.net\/teens\/2016\/sidekick-story-by-karla-ortiz-burden\/","url_meta":{"origin":2737,"position":3},"title":"“Sidekick” — story by Karla Ortiz Burden","author":"Teen Blogger","date":"March 24, 2016","format":false,"excerpt":"One City One Story 2016 Writing Contest: \u201cA Vivid Memory\u201d Honorable mention Category 2: Grades 6-8 \u201cSidekick\u201d by Karla Ortiz Burden Grade 8 Southmore Intermediate School \u00a0 There was a girl in my preschool, I remember. She was crying. Most of her black hair was on her face, wet, due\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Writing"","block_context":{"text":"Writing","link":"https:\/\/pasadena-library.net\/teens\/category\/writing\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":2735,"url":"https:\/\/pasadena-library.net\/teens\/2016\/my-life-story-by-serena-elise-brown\/","url_meta":{"origin":2737,"position":4},"title":"“My Life Story” –story by Serena Elise Brown","author":"Teen Blogger","date":"March 19, 2016","format":false,"excerpt":"One City One Story 2016 Writing Contest: \u201cA Vivid Memory\u201d 3rd place Category 2: Grades 6-8 \u201cMy Life Story\u201d by Serena Elise Brown Grade 8 Blair Middle School \u00a0 It all started out when I was two years old. 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