My Identity

I am Not What Has Happened To Me, I am What I Choose To Be -Carl June

My name is Melanie Rivera. I am a sister to seven boys and one girl. I have two homes, it may not seem like a big deal to some people, but this made me who I am. The impassioned teen I am today. Some people may think, "So what, it's just a small change in life, it's not like someone in your family died." This is something someone had actually said to me. It is some what true, but imagine you being six or seven and you go to school crying and you tell someone that your parents separated and that is what they say to you.
It was not a small change, I saw less and less of my father as the day went by. That hurt me and only me because my biological brother Christian was way to young to understand. When I would call and ask where he was living he would say at grandma's house. But it wasn't. With my parents separated they still found a way to argue. When it came to my parents arguing I hated being the brave one. I wouldn't be able to cry because that would scare Chris even more. When I go to school most students would say I have the best life ever. But if they were to walk into my shoes. They would say I am living a typical abused life.

Ten Years From Now

  In ten years from now, which would mean I will be twenty three. I see myself living in Puerto Rico but traveling mostly. Specifically would live in a big house in San Juan which is the capitol. I would like to go to San Francisco to go to the college Academy of Art University. To study photography. After I completed college I will take photos of monuments and of the plants all over the world. Also take pictures for weddings and parties. When I get back to Puerto Rico I might get a husky dog and I will name it Crystal or Snowball depending on the gender.

Meeting My Step Sister

  The very first time I met my moms boyfriend's daughter, Emma was on a weekend in the winter. In my head I was saying sarcastically, "Oh boy my step siblings for me." My thought was interrupted by a soft knock at the door.
  I got off my bed and walked towards my door to open it, when I opened the door, I saw Jose with a girl that seemed to be around nine or ten holding what looked like a baby blanket. We stood there awkwardly staring at each other then I remembered something my mom had said earlier, "Don't stare at her left arm or neck."
  I just glance at her neck and I see that she had a very long scar that went from the side of her ear to her neck. In my head I thought, "Did she get a nerve removed?"
  I didn't want to look at her arm so I just broke the silence and asked "What kind of music do you like?" She quietly replied, "I kind of like Twentyone Pilots." I said "Ok, why don't you go sit on my bed and I will go get my laptop." She nodded and walked towards the bed but she was holding her arm.
   She quietly sat down and I got my laptop and sat next to her. I played some random song and just listened quietly, I felt her left arm twitch and in my head I say, "So whatever happened to her  arm it's just shorter and thinner than her other arm." I asked "Do you like sports?" She said "Um, I like soccer."
  All of a sudden Jose calls us for dinner then after we need to get into something comfortable,  because we had to go to bed twake up early tomorrow. After we ate dinner I walked into my room to change into some joggers then Emma asked me if I could roll up her sleeve. I said "Ok, give me your hands." Her face started to blush and I saw her eyes water. I didn't know what I did wrong so I just rolled up one of her sleeves and helped her turn on the sink and poured the soap on her hand.
  When she was done I had already changed into joggers and a shirt. Emma said "Can you help me get my pajamas? I said, "Sure where are they?" She pointed to the top bunk and I just grabbed them sense the top bunk wasn't so high up. I saw that her pajamas were short sleeves. In my head I said, "I'm finally gonna see what's wrong."
  Once she came out she was holding her arm again but then she let go and I saw her arm, it was small  and thin. The one thing that I didn't understand was her fingers, they were small and chubby like a baby's. Her middle finger seemed like the only finger she can control, I saw how she kept on twitching it and moving it slowly. As we were getting in bed I saw that she has three scars in total. I assumed two scars were for removing nerves which are the scar and her leg that went from her calf to her ankle. Also the one on her neck which went from the side of her ear and down her neck. The third scar was on her left arm and it looks normal but its most likely from putting the nerves in her left arm I think they would of had to cut off her left arm.
  So we said good night but as I was trying to fall asleep Emma yells, "Daddy! Can you please give me Blankie" I assumed it was her pink baby blanket that she came with. Once she had her blanket she fell asleep. In my head I said, "Maybe having a step sister won't be so bad after all." Then I fell asleep.