1    

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                         By:  Daezsha  Abbott  

 

 

2    

Table  of  Contents  Cover  Page…………………………………………………………………………….Pg.1  

Table  of  Contents  …………………………………………………………………Pg.  2  

Introduction………………………………………………………………….………..Pg.3  

Moon  Prose  Draft  …………………………………………………………………..  Pg.  4  

Moon  Poem  Draft  …………………………………………………………………..  Pg.5  

Moon  Poem  Revision  ……………………………………………………………..  Pg.  6  

Moon  Poem  Haiku  Draft  …………………………………………………………  Pg.7  

Moon  Poem  Haiku  Revision…………………………………………….……….Pg.8  

Outside  Poem  #1  Draft……………………………………………………..…….Pg.9  

Outside  Poem  #1  Revision……………………………………………………….Pg.10  

Outside  Poem  #2  Draft……………………………………………….……………Pg.11  

Outside  Poem  #2  Revision……………………………………………….………Pg.12  

Outside  Poem  #3  Draft……………………………………………………….……Pg.13  

Outside  Poem  #3  Revision……………………………………………………….Pg.14  

Fiction  Section:  

Circular  Story……………………………………………………………………………Pgs.15-­‐18  

Circular  Story  (Revised)……………………………………………………………Pg.19-­‐22  

Character  based  story……………………………………………………………..Pg.23-­‐24  

Character  based  story  (Revised)………………………………………………Pg.25-­‐26  

Point  of  View  Story  ………………………………………………………………….Pg.27-­‐28  

Point  of  View  Story  (Revised)…………………………………………………..Pg.29-­‐30  

Story  set  on  unusual/awkward  setting…………………………….………Pg.31-­‐32  

Story  set  on  unusual/awkward  setting  (Revised)……………………..Pg.33-­‐34  

3    

 

Introduction  

                 Poetry:  

  Writing  in  the  poetry  section  was  hard  for  me.  I  never  was  good  with  writing  

poetry  but  I  did  better  than  I  expected.  My  poetry  section  starts  off  with  the  moon  

poems  and  prose  piece.  I  tried  to  use  the  scientific  things  about  the  moon  to  write  my  

prose  piece.  Then  I  found  myself  straying  away  from  the  scientific  direction.  When  it  

came  to  my  outside  poems,  they  were  mostly  sad.  When  I  write,  I  talk  about  my  feelings  

and  what  goes  on  in  my  life.  I  think  that  I  should  start  including  more  positive  moments  

also  though.  

Fiction:  

  Writing   in   the   fiction   section  was   a   little   easier   to  me.   I  was  more   engaged   in  

writing  then  when  I  was  doing  poetry.   I  often  had  the  problem  with  telling  the  reader  

and  not   showing   them.  Over   time   in  my   fiction  writings   I   started  showing   rather   than  

telling.   I   feel   like  every  time  I  would  correct  one  mistake   I  would  end  up  with  another  

one.   I   liked   the   fiction   section   because   I   could   take   a   true   story   and   add   things   that  

made  it  fictional.  I  was  able  to  write  at  any  time  of  the  day  and  come  up  with  ideas  that  

made  my  writing  better.    

 

 

4    

“The Creation of the Moon”

 

  There  are  many  different   theories  on  how  the  moon  was  created.  One  of  

the  theories  was  that  a  body  that  a  body  that  is  about  the  shape  of  mars  collided  

with  Earth  and  left  chunks  of  Earth’s  crust  in  space.  Gravity  brought  the  particles  

together  which  created  the  moon.  The  formation  makes  sense  because  it  explains  

why   the   moon   is   less   dense   than   the   Earth   because   it’s   made   up   of   lighter  

elements.   Later,   huge   collisions   started   to   hit   the   moon,   which   impacted   its  

surface  by  making  dark  craters  on  the  moon.  The  surface   just  keeps  continue  to  

be  effected  by  impacts.  To  me,  this  means  a  lot  when  it  comes  to  the  relationship  

between   the   Earth   and   the   moon.   Their   relationship   is   like   a   mother   and   son  

relationship  because  if   it  wasn’t  for  the  collision  with  the  Earth  the  moon  would  

have  not  been  formed.  

 

 

 

   

5    

 The Moon, a Beautiful Creation

About four & a half billion years ago, The moon was birthed. It lights up the darkness. What a wonderful creation To what was once a dark nation. From the accidental love of Earth and Theia. To the collision between the two planets, Who would soon make a trio. The moon was born, And now him and his mother, Would never be torn. The moon has been through many changes, Like teenagers with puberty. From a smooth surface to bumps and humps, That collectively helps humans develop serenity. What loyalty the moon has, To whom you may ask? To which the place we breathe and walk on, Mother Earth. What a relationship they have, a clear unbreakable bond, As the moon continues to stick by the Earth’s side as it orbits. Round and Round.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

6    

The Moon, a Beautiful Creation (Revised) About four & a half billion years ago, The moon was birthed. This unexpected child lights up the dark sky. What a wonderful creation To what was once a dark nation. From the accidental love of Earth and Theia. To the collision between the two planets, Who would soon make a trio. The moon was born, And now him and his mother, Would never be torn. The moon has been through many changes, Like teenagers with puberty. From a smooth surface to bumps and humps, That collectively helps humans develop serenity. What loyalty the moon has, To whom you may ask? To which the place we breathe and walk on, Mother Earth. What a relationship they have, a clear unbreakable bond, As the moon continues to stick by the Earth’s side as it orbits. Round and Round.

7    

“Inner Demon”

The full moon tonight It screams to my inner wolf

Sets my demons free  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

8    

 

 

“Inner Demon”

The full moon tonight It screams to my inner wolf

Sets my demons free  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

9    

Rejected

A father should teach his daughter how to be loved correctly by a man To be respected and protected by a man I was neglected, misdirected. I know I may never understand. I know it may seem like I’m living in the past But all the times I reached out for you To only slip right through my grasp Having a dad was a love I’ve always dreamed of but seemed to never have. I know that now that I am older I’m much stronger from pain But how could I not help to know more about whose blood is running through my veins. After all these years these years my heart is like a stone And sharing feelings are like a danger zone Growing up without a father is far from easy Thinking that you would pop up to come and see me You must’ve forgotten that you were a dad; You know, the other half to complete me But you had other things to worry about Because you missed my life completely.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

10    

My life Affected by a Man (Revised)

A father should teach his daughter how to be loved correctly by a man To be respected and protected by a man. Instead I was rejected. I was neglected, misdirected. I know I may never understand. I know it may seem like I’m living in the past But all the times I reached out for you To only slip right through my grasp Having a dad, Was a love I’ve always dreamed of but seemed to never have. I know that now that I am older I’m much stronger from pain But how could I not help to know more about whose blood is running through my veins. After all these years these years my heart is a stone And sharing feelings are like a danger zone Growing up without a father is far from easy Thinking that you would pop up to come and see me You must’ve forgot that you were a dad You know, the other half to complete me But you had other things to worry about Because you missed my life completely.

11    

Angel Above

Sometimes  I  just  lay  here  a  gaze   Gaze  at  the  ocean  of  a  sky I  wonder  why  he  took  you Before  I  got  a  chance   To  say  goodbye   I  know  that  you’re  looking  down   So  I  like  to  think  that  you’re  proud  of  me But  how  could  I  really  know If  you’re  not  even  here  with  me When  I  sit  for  a  minute  to  think   I  realize  that  you’re  gone Then  slowly   The  tears And  then  the  fears  come And  life  just  seems  so  wrong But  then  in  that  slight  moment  of  grief I  realize  that  you  are  my  angel Watching  over  me  gracefully Then  I  see  that  I’m  happy  as  I  cry

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

12    

 

Angel Above  

       Sometimes  I  just  lay  here  and  gaze    Gaze  at  the  ocean  of  a  sky I  wonder  why  he  took  you Before  I  got  a  chance   To  say  goodbye   I  know  that  you’re  looking  down   So  I  like  to  think  that  you’re  proud  of  me But  how  could  I  really  know If  you’re  not  even  here  with  me When  I  sit  for  a  minute  to  think   I  realize  that  you’re  gone Then  slowly   The  tears And  then  the  fears  of  being  without  you  come And  life  just  seems  so  wrong But  then  in  that  slight  moment  of  grief I  realize  that  you  are  my  angel Watching  over  me  gracefully Then  I  see  that  I’m  happy  as  I  cry

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

13    

 

 

Dear  Best  Friend I  remember  the  first  day  we  met We  clicked  instantly I  loved  your  fun  and  crazy  personality They  say  that  true  friendship  is  rare Which  I  believed  to  be  true   But  after  all  I  am  really  lucky  to  have  met  you You  were  there  when  life  was  a  tornado You  were  there  to  listen  to  all  my  darkened  pain But  the  day  I  saw  you  weep,  blood  rushed  straight  through  my  veins I  tried  to  help,  but  I  ended  up  weeping  right  with  you Tears  rushed  down  our  face  like  waves  of  an  ocean We  fight  like  siblings And  play  like  children But  best  friends,  they  stay  together Although  they  change  like  the  weather And  through  thick  and  thin,  they  always  had  each  other’s  back Our  bond  is  unbreakable We’ve  been  through  so  much  together   So  just  remember,  we  will  always  be  best  friends  forever.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

14    

 

Dear  Best  Friend I  remember  the  first  day  we  met We  clicked  instantly I  loved  your  fun  and  crazy  personality They  say  that  true  friendship  is  rare Which  I  believed   But  after  all  I  am  really  lucky  to  have  met  you You  were  there  when  life  was  a  tornado You  were  there  to  listen  to  all  my  darkened  pain But  the  day  I  saw  you  weep,  blood  rushed  straight  through  my  veins I  tried  to  help,  but  I  ended  up  weeping  right  with  you Tears  rushed  down  our  face  like  waves  of  an  ocean We  fight  like  siblings And  play  like  children But  best  friends,  they  stay  together Although  they  change  like  the  weather And  through  thick  and  thin,  they  always  had  each  other’s  back Our  bond  is  unbreakable We’ve  been  through  so  much  together   So  just  remember,  we  will  always  be  best  friends  forever.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

15    

Sister Lost

I loved my sister Ashley. She was the most beautiful girl in the world. But me, I was the

total opposite; well at least that’s how I saw myself. It’s like she was great at everything,

school, sports, beauty, and boys. She was the most popular girl in school and half of the

students in the school didn’t even notice that we were sisters. I wanted to be just like her; no

as a matter of fact I wanted to be her. At school and at home, I was the quiet type. I never

really stood out like Ashley. Even at family events, I was the loner; I would usually just sit in

my room bored. “Ana darling, get out here and join the fun “my mother would say. But, of

course I would lie and say I was studying, or doing homework. My mother seemed to favor

Ashley more than me, but I never really cared. I was just lying to myself, I really did care, I

just thought that maybe, just maybe my mom only acted that way because we were not as

close. Then that day hit me, I couldn’t stand the fact that I was loner anymore. Ashley had

just dyed her honey blonde, it was so shiny, smooth and silky, and I loved it. So on

February 14, my life changed, but not just mines, my sister’s too. It was Valentine’s Day,

and it was a dance coming up so I decided to change my look. I dyed my hair red, which

was the new color that everybody thought was hot. I went shopping and got clothes that I

knew Ashley would wear and I brought heels, something that you would usually not catch

me wearing. The next day I walked through the doors of my high school, and at that very

moment all eyes were on me. I walked down the hallway like I was use to the stares. I

heard things like “Wow, she’s pretty” and “Is she new here”. But the next statement stood

out from all the rest, “She’s beautiful” said John. Did I forget to mention that John was

Ashley’s boyfriend, and the captain of the football team? I know I shouldn’t have loved that

comment, mostly because it was coming from him, but I did. As I continued to walk down

16    

The hallway, the worse thing happened. I slipped and fell on the floor because I was so

busy being somebody else that I wasn’t paying any attention to the huge yellow sign that

said, “CAUTION, WET FLOOR”. I know what you’re thinking, how stupid of me to not see

the most obvious sign in the hallway. When I realized what had happen, I heard it. The

roaring laughter of every student in the school, they were laughing so hard that they were

clapping and stomping their feet. “CLAP CLAP CLAP” & “BOOM BOOM BOOM. No one

even helped the pretty girl up, poor me. I was hurt, and embarassed. So I ran, ran as fast as

I could to my house, shut the door, and locked it. I took of those uncomfortable clothes and

put on my usual sweats, put my hair in a messy ponytail, rubbed the makeup of and sat

there and cried. I almost looked like my normal self again. The next day at school, nobody

really noticed me because I had went back to my normal self, except my hair color. I wanted

to try again. I wasn’t giving up on the fantasy of being my sister. So I pulled my pony tail out,

shaked my head, and walked over to the “popular table” where Ashley and her friends sat.

When I sat down my sister looked at me like I was crazy and smiled, then I just got to

talking. I gossiped and told jokes, and surprisingly they agreed with me and laughed at my

jokes. From that day on, I was considered cool. I went everywhere with them, and my sister

hated it. She started always having bad attitudes. I mean she had them so much that her

friends started to not like her, and she was eventually pushed out of the clique. Next thing

I knew, they were following me around like puppies. I was everything to them, I even got a

few boys that wanted me, but I didn’t really entertain it because I wanted John. I knew I was

wrong. I was getting ahead of myself because being popular was so thrilling. I started acting

out, even at home and my parents thought that I had went crazy because I had never acted

like this before. I basically had took everything my sister had, I was making her life

miserable, and surprisingly I was enjoying it. For the first time in my life I was happy, I was

Ashley. Finally, I had what I wanted, my life seemed like heaven. I was day dreaming in my

17    

bed happily then Ashley walked in, “Ana, what’s wrong with you why are you acting like this,

I mean you took my friends, my boyfriend, everything !” said Ashley. “ Obviously they were

not your real friends, Ashley, stop tripping and leave me alone” I said. She ran out crying.

Two months had went past and Ashley had quickly went from popular to getting bullied and

pushed around everyday. I saw the hurt in her eyes, tears rushing down her face everyday

when I got home. She had recently gotten beat up, really bad. I was too selfish to care and

realize what my actions had done to her. I had made a huge mistake. I let wanting to be

popular get the best of me. I was too scared to apologize so I did nothing about it. I kept

going on with my life, I shut her out, completely, and she had did the same thing to me. But

the difference was that she had did that a long time ago, when I took everything she

had. Everyone at school was doing her so wrong, but how could they do that when they

were just all in her face and thought that she was so beautiful. I guess you could say it was

my fault. On her birthday, I started to feel really bad for all that I had done. I mean I treated

her like crap, when she had never did any of that to me. I tried talking to her, I tried to

apologize to her, to love her, to treat her like my sister. But that didn’t work. I constantly

knocked on her door. I had even stopped hanging out with my so called friends because I

cared about her more. I don’t know why it took me so long to realize that. I kept knocking on

her door but she wouldn’t answer. My mom was starting to get worried, and she was upset

in me. Its like I couldn’t win for losing with her. I used a bobby pin to try and unlock her

door. When I got in, I rushed to hug her, but I ended up hugging her dangling legs. Waves

of tears rushed down my face as I saw her hanging there. I grabbed her gently to pull her

down, “ Mom help !” I said. “Oh no, what have you done “ she said. We both sat there and

cried, with my sister’s soulless body in my arms. What did I do ? How stupid was I ? I chose

popularity over my sister. I let things get the best of me. I hurt my sister, this was all my

18    

fault. I miss her. I wanted her attention back then. I didnt want to be Ana, I wanted to be

Ashley. I did her wrong. I loved my sister Ashley.

19    

Sister Lost (Revised)

I loved my sister Ashley. She was the most beautiful girl in the world. But me, I was the

total opposite, well at least that’s how I saw myself. She won her games in every sport she

played, she aced all her test, her style was on point every day, and every guy wanted her.

She was the most popular girl in school and half of the students in the school didn’t even

notice that we were sisters. I wanted to be just like her, no as a matter of fact I wanted to be

her. At school and at home, I was the quiet type. I never really stood out like Ashley. Even

at family events, I was the loner, I would usually just sit in my room bored. “Ana darling, get

out here and join the fun “ my mother would say. But, of course I would lie and say I was

studying, or doing homework. My mother seemed to favor Ashley more than me, but I never

really cared. I was just lying to myself, I really did care, I just thought that maybe, just

maybe my mom only acted that way because we were not as close. Then that day hit me, I

couldn’t stand the fact that I was loner anymore. Ashley had just dyed her honey blonde, it

was so shiny, smooth and silky, I loved it. So on February 14, my life changed, but not just

mines, my sister’s too. It was Valentine’s Day, and it was a dance coming up so I decided to

change my look. I dyed my hair red, which was the new color that everybody thought was

hot. I went shopping and got clothes that I knew Ashley would wear and I brought heels,

something that you would usually not catch me wearing. The next day I walked through the

doors of my high school, and at that very moment all eyes were on me. I walked down the

hallway like I was use to the stares. I heard things like “Wow, she’s pretty” and “Is she new

here?”. But the next statement stood out from all the rest, “She’s beautiful” said John. Did I

forget to mention that John was Ashley’s boyfriend, and the captain of the football team. I

20    

know I shouldn’t have loved that comment, mostly because It was coming from him, but I

did. As I continued to walk down the hallway, the worse thing happened. I slipped and fell

on the floor because I was so busy being somebody else that I wasn’t paying any attention

to the huge yellow sign that said, “CAUTION, WET FLOOR”. I know what you’re thinking,

how stupid of me to not see the most obvious sign in the hallway. When I realized what had

happen, I heard it. The roaring laughter of every student in the school, they were laughing

so hard that they were clapping and stomping their feet. No one even helped the pretty girl

up, poor me. I was hurt, and embarrassed. So I ran, ran as fast as I could to my house, shut

the door, and locked it. I took of those uncomfortable clothes and put on my usual sweats,

put my hair in a messy ponytail, rubbed the makeup of and sat there and cried. I almost

looked like my normal self again. The next day at school, nobody really noticed me because

I had gone back to my normal self, except my hair color. I wanted to try again. I wasn’t

giving up on the fantasy of being my sister. So I pulled my pony tail out, shoke my head,

and walked over to the “popular table” where Ashley and her friends sat. When I sat down

my sister looked at me like I was crazy and smiled, and then I just got to talking. I gossiped

and told jokes, and surprisingly they agreed with me and laughed at my jokes. From that

day on, I was considered cool. I went everywhere with them, and my sister hated it. She

started always having bad attitudes. I mean she had them so much that her friends started

to not like her, and she was eventually pushed out of the clique. Next thing I knew, they

were following me around like puppies. I was everything to them, I even got a few boys that

wanted me, but I didn’t really entertain it because I wanted John. I knew I was wrong. I was

getting ahead of myself because being popular was so thrilling. I started acting out, even at

home and my parents thought that I had gone crazy because I had never acted like this

before. I would snap off at my mom and dad when they said something to me about Ashley.

I basically had taken everything my sister had, I was making her life miserable, and

21    

surprisingly I was enjoying it. For the first time in my life I was happy, I was Ashley. Finally, I

had what I wanted, my life seemed like heaven. I was day dreaming in my bed happily then

Ashley walked in, “Ana, what’s wrong with you why are you acting like this, I mean you took

my friends, my boyfriend, everything!” said Ashley. “Obviously they were not your real

friends, Ashley, stop tripping and leave me alone” I said. She ran out crying. Two months

had gone past and Ashley had quickly gone from popular to getting bullied and pushed

around every day. No one liked her anymore because they thought that she had the

mindset that she was the shit. I saw the hurt in her eyes, tears rushing down her face every

day when I got home. She had recently gotten beat up, really bad. A girl named Stacy Ratliff

had bumped into Ashley and got mad that Ashley didn’t say excuse me. I was too selfish to

care and realize what my actions had done to her. I had made a huge mistake. I let wanting

to be popular get the best of me. I was too scared to apologize so I did nothing about it. I

kept going on with my life, I shut her out, completely, and she had done the same thing to

me. But the difference was that she had done that a long time ago, when I took everything

she had. Everyone at school was doing her so wrong, but how could they do that when

they were just all in her face and thought that she was so beautiful. I guess you could say it

was my fault. On her birthday, I started to feel really bad for all that I had done. I mean I

treated her like crap, when she had never done any of that to me. I tried talking to her; I

tried to apologize to her, to love her, to treat her like my sister. But that didn’t work. I

constantly knocked on her door. I had even stopped hanging out with my so called friends

because I cared about her more. I don’t know why it took me so long to realize that. I kept

knocking on her door but she wouldn’t answer. My mom was starting to get worried, and

she was upset in me. It’s like I couldn’t win for losing with her. I used a bobby pin to try and

unlock her door. When I got in, I rushed to hug her, but I ended up hugging her dangling

legs. Waves of tears rushed down my face as I saw her hanging there. I grabbed her gently

22    

to pull her down, “Mom help!” I said. “Oh no, what have you done “she said. We both sat

there and cried, with my sister’s soulless body in my arms. What did I do? How stupid was

I? I chose popularity over my sister. I let things get the best of me. I hurt my sister, this was

my entire fault. I miss her. I wanted her attention back then. I didn’t want to be Ana, I

wanted to be Ashley. I did her wrong. I loved my sister Ashley.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

23    

 

Skylar,  Age  15  

Maria,  Age  30  

 

Skylar:    Scared,  tired,  intelligent,  thoughtful,  radiant,  cute,  detached,  creative,  stylish,  free,  determined,  silly,  independent,  my  baby  girl.    

Maria:  Drug  addict,  bipolar,  unstable,  depressed,  desperate,  loves  her  daughter,  decisive,  emotional,  forceful,  tough,  aggressive,  compulsive,  miserable,  uses  drugs  as  an  outlet,  nervous,  quick  tempered,  selfish,  timid,  thoughtless,  weak  at  times.  

 

Thoughtless    

A  girl  named  Skylar  ran  quickly  through  the  moonlit  forest.  She  felt  her  heart  pounding  in  her  ears  and  heard  leaves  crunching  under  her  bare  feet.  As  she  turned  her  head  to  look  in  the  back  of  her,  she  saw  her  mother,  a  desperate  woman  with  tears  streaming  down  her  face.  

“Skylar,  come  back!  “  

“Leave  me  alone!”  

She  didn’t  know  who  her  mother  was  anymore.  The  look  in  her  mother’s  eyes  was  a  mixture  of  pain  and  desperation.  Skylar  remembered  seeing  her  mom  take  drugs  constantly  every  day,  questioning  how  her  mother  could  be  so  careless.  

She  pushed  herself  harder;  suddenly  the  ground  seemed  to  disappear  beneath  her,  causing  her  to  fall,  then  unconsciousness.  

Skylar  woke  up,  and  found  herself  trying  to  adjust  her  eyes  to  the  darkness.    

Where  am  I?  She  thought.  

An  old  painting  hung  on  the  wall  to  her  left.  

That’s  a  very  pretty  painting,  she  thought.  

“Skylar,  Are  you  okay?  

She  searched  the  space,  no  one.    

Who  had  said  that?  She  thought.  

“Skylar  honey,  it’s  me,  your  mother.”  

24    

 “Get  away  from  me!”  

Skylar  quickly  moved  away  from  the  dark  shape  in  front  of  her.  

“Please,  I’m  sorry,  I’m  trying  to  be  sober,  for  you.”  

“You  let  that  man  hit  me,  and  all  you  did  was  laugh.  I  hate  you!”  

A  sharp  pain  ran  through  her  mother’s  body  as  those  words  came  out  of  Skylar’s  mouth.  

“I  was  high,  I’m  sorry  Sky,  please  forgive  me.”  

Skylar  moved  her  hands  around  her  quickly,  looking  for  something  to  use  as  a  weapon.  She  wanted  nothing  to  do  with  her  mother.  

Skylar  got  up  and  started  backing  away  from  her  mother  as  she  came  towards  her.  

“Skylar,  stop  being  foolish  and  do  as  I  say,  stop  disobeying  me.  Right  now!  “  

At  that  moment,  Skylar  knew  that  her  mother  had  changed  again,  her  voice  got  stronger  and  her  eyebrows  had  frowned  up.  She  was  angry.  

 “Skylar  stop  running  away  from  me,  I’m  your  mother  for  God’s  sake!”  

“Leave  me  alone,  I  hate  you,  you  don’t  give  a  crap  about  me,  you  dirty  drug  addict!”  

Skylar  turned  around  to  find  a  big  black  hole,  she  had  nowhere  else  to  run.  Her  mother  was  breathing  hard,  and  Skylar  could  tell  this  wasn’t  about  to  turn  out  good.  

“Leave  me  alone,  I’d  rather  die  than  spend  the  rest  of  my  life  knowing  that  my  mom  is  a  drug  addict.”  

Her  mother  then  ran  quickly,  coming  towards  Skylar  like  a  pack  of  wolves  after  their  prey.  

She  harshly  pushed  Skylar  in  the  deep  black  hole.  

“You  will  obey  me  Skylar!”  

As  Skylar  fell,  she  saw  her  life  flash  before  her  eyes,  all  the  horrible  memories  of  abuse  and  drugs.  The  bottom  of  the  hole  was  the  end  of  her  life.  Her  mother  had  killed  her.  

Her  mother  hit  the  ground  and  began  to  weep  loudly.  

“What  have  I  done.”  

 

 

 

 

 

25    

 

Skylar,  Age  15  

Maria,  Age  30  

 

Skylar:    Scared,  tired,  intelligent,  thoughtful,  radiant,  cute,  detached,  creative,  stylish,  free,  determined,  silly,  independent,  my  baby  girl.    

Maria:  Drug  addict,  bipolar,  unstable,  depressed,  desperate,  loves  her  daughter,  decisive,  emotional,  forceful,  tough,  aggressive,  compulsive,  miserable,  uses  drugs  as  an  outlet,  nervous,  quick  tempered,  selfish,  timid,  thoughtless,  weak  at  times.  

 

Thoughtless  (Revised)    

A  girl  named  Skylar  ran  quickly  through  the  moonlit  forest.  She  felt  her  heart  pounding  in  her  ears  and  heard  leaves  crunching  under  her  bare  feet.  As  she  turned  her  head  to  look  in  the  back  of  her,  she  saw  her  mother,  a  desperate  woman  with  tears  streaming  down  her  face.  

“Skylar,  come  back!  “  

“Leave  me  alone!”  

She  didn’t  know  who  her  mother  was  anymore.  The  look  in  her  mother’s  eyes  was  a  mixture  of  pain  and  desperation.  Skylar  remembered  seeing  her  mom  take  drugs  constantly  every  day,  questioning  how  her  mother  could  be  so  careless.  

She  pushed  herself  harder;  suddenly  the  ground  seemed  to  disappear  beneath  her,  causing  her  to  fall,  then  unconsciousness.  

Skylar  woke  up,  and  found  herself  trying  to  adjust  her  eyes  to  the  darkness.    

Where  am  I?  She  thought.  

An  old  painting  hung  on  the  wall  to  her  left.  

That’s  a  very  pretty  painting,  she  thought.  

“Skylar,  Are  you  okay?  

She  searched  the  space,  no  one.    

Who  had  said  that?  She  thought.  

“Skylar  honey,  it’s  me,  your  mother.”  

26    

 “Get  away  from  me!”  

Skylar  quickly  moved  away  from  the  dark  shape  in  front  of  her.  

“Please,  I’m  sorry,  I’m  trying  to  be  sober,  for  you.”  

“You  let  that  man  hit  me,  and  all  you  did  was  laugh.  I  hate  you!”  

A  sharp  pain  ran  through  her  mother’s  body  as  those  words  came  out  of  Skylar’s  mouth.  

“I  was  high,  I’m  sorry  Sky,  please  forgive  me.”  

Skylar  moved  her  hands  around  her  quickly,  looking  for  something  to  use  as  a  weapon.  She  wanted  nothing  to  do  with  her  mother.  

Skylar  got  up  and  started  backing  away  from  her  mother  as  she  came  towards  her.  

“Skylar,  stop  being  foolish  and  do  as  I  say,  stop  disobeying  me.  Right  now!  “  

At  that  moment,  Skylar  knew  that  her  mother  had  changed  again,  her  voice  got  stronger  and  her  eyebrows  had  frowned  up.    

 “Skylar  stop  running  away  from  me,  I’m  your  mother  for  God’s  sake!”  

“Leave  me  alone,  I  hate  you,  you  don’t  give  a  crap  about  me,  you  dirty  drug  addict!”  

Skylar  turned  around  to  find  a  big  black  hole,  she  had  nowhere  else  to  run.  Her  mother  was  breathing  hard,  and  Skylar  could  tell  this  wasn’t  about  to  turn  out  good.  

“Leave  me  alone,  I’d  rather  die  than  spend  the  rest  of  my  life  knowing  that  my  mom  is  a  drug  addict.”  

Her  mother  then  ran  quickly,  coming  towards  Skylar  like  a  pack  of  wolves  after  their  prey.  

She  harshly  pushed  Skylar  in  the  deep  black  hole.  

“You  will  obey  me  Skylar!”  

As  Skylar  fell,  she  saw  her  life  flash  before  her  eyes,  all  the  horrible  memories  of  abuse  and  drugs.  But,  she  surprisingly  saw  the  say  her  and  her  parents  were  in  the  park  eating  ice  cream  talking  about  there  day.  The  bottom  of  the  hole  was  the  end  of  her  life.    

Her  mother  hit  the  ground  and  began  to  weep  loudly.  

“What  have  I  done?”  

 

 

 

 

 

27    

 

 

 

My Childhood

Dad’s  point  of  View

She  was  born  on  September  15,  1997.  Too  bad  I  was  too  stupid  to  even  remember  to  tell  

her  happy  birthday.  I  don’t  know  what  her  childhood  was  like.  I  never  went  to  any  

performances,  I  wasn’t  at  the  hospital  when  she  was  born,  I  wasn’t  at  her  graduation,  I  

didn’t  see,  or  never  knew  when  she  had  did  something  new.  I  missed  out  of  everything.  My  

own  mother  and  siblings  saw  her  before  I  did.  When  she  was  15,  I  reached  out  to  her.  

Facebook  message  to  Daezsha  Abbott  :  Hey  baby  girl,  I  talked  to  your  mom  to  set  up  a  day  

that  I  could  come  and  get  you.  I  miss  you  a  lot.  I  never  got  a  reply  from  her  though.  It’s  like  I  

watched  her  grow  up  through  social  media,  but  I  just  couldn’t  push  myself  to  be  there  for  

her  physically.  I  know  she  needed  me.  I  saw  that  she  looked  for  a  father  in  her  boyfriends.  

She  needed  that  male  figure  in  her  life  and  I  wasn’t  there  to  be  it.

Mother’s  point  of  view

As  soon  as  she  came  out,  it  was  all  smiles.  I  decided  to  name  her  Daezsha.  It  fitted  her  little  

face  perfectly.  I  could  feel  the  joy  in  the  room  all  because  of  the  arrival  of  my  baby  girl.  I  had  

never  had  this  experience  before.  Every  time  I  heard  her  little  cry,  I  would  jump  up  because  

I  thought  something  was  wrong.  I  was  extremely  nervous.  Even  though  I  was  a  single  

parent  and  I  was  only  19,  I  felt  prepared.  After  years  of  changing  diapers,  walking  my  

brother  to  school,  taking  him  to  doctor  appointments,  getting  him  ready  every  morning,  

28    

and  giving  him  all  the  love  and  care  he  needed,  I  finally  had  someone  I  can  call  my  child.  

Her  hair,  it  was  jet  black,  curly  and  long.  My  fingers  just  slid  right  through  it.  Holding  her  

were  my  most  precious  moments  while  I  was  still  in  the  hospital.  I  felt  a  deep  attachment  

with  her  right  away.  I  didn’t  like  having  her  out  of  my  sight  for  a  moment  of  the  day.  I  didn’t  

need  her  father,  I  felt  like  I  could  do  this  all  on  my  own,  since  he  wouldn’t  be  in  her  life  

anyway.  After  I  got  out  the  hospital,  I  needed  to  go  back  to  school  and  continue  to  work.  My  

mother,  and  other  family  members  looked  after  her  whenever  I  needed  them  to  and  

provided  anything  that  I  needed  for  her.  I  didn’t  want  to  accept  it  but  I  did  because  I  

wanted  the  best  for  her.  Every  time  I  came  to  get  her  after  I  had  went  to  work  or  school,  she  

would  throw  her  arms  up  and  bounce  up  and  down  with  a  huge  smile  on  her  face.  She  was  

the  most  precious  thing  you  could  ever  imagine.  She  was  mine.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

29    

 

 

 

My Childhood (Revised)

Dad’s  point  of  View

She  was  born  on  September  15,  1997.  Too  bad  I  was  too  stupid  to  even  remember  to  tell  

her  happy  birthday.  I  don’t  know  what  her  childhood  was  like.  I  never  went  to  any  

performances.  I  often  wondered  did  she  have  dance  recitals,  or  sports  games,  or  maybe  

even  cheer  competitions,  I  wasn’t  at  her  graduation,  I  didn’t  see,  or  never  knew  when  she  

had  did  something  new.  I  missed  out  of  everything.  My  own  mother  and  siblings  saw  her  

before  I  did.  When  she  was  15,  I  reached  out  to  her.  Facebook  message  to  Daezsha  Abbott  :  

Hey  baby  girl,  I  talked  to  your  mom  to  set  up  a  day  that  I  could  come  and  get  you.  I  miss  you  

a  lot.  I  never  got  a  reply  from  her  though.  It’s  like  I  watched  her  grow  up  through  social  

media,  but  I  just  couldn’t  push  myself  to  be  there  for  her  physically.  I  know  she  needed  me.  

I  saw  that  she  looked  for  a  father  in  her  boyfriends.  She  needed  that  male  figure  in  her  life  

and  I  wasn’t  there  to  be  it.

Mother’s  point  of  view

As  soon  as  she  came  out,  the  room  was  all  smiles.    I  could  feel  the  joy  in  the  room  all  

because  of  the  arrival  of  my  baby  girl.  I  decided  to  name  her  Daezsha.  It  fitted  her  little  face  

perfectly.  She  was  my  first  and,  every  time  I  heard  her  little  cry,  I  would  jump  up  because  I  

thought  something  was  wrong.  I  was  extremely  nervous.  I  was  a  single  parent  and  I  was  

30    

only  19,  I  felt  prepared.  After  years  of  changing  diapers,  walking  my  brother  to  school,  

taking  him  to  doctor  appointments,  getting  him  ready  every  morning,  and  giving  him  all  the  

love  and  care  he  needed,  I  finally  had  someone  I  can  call  my  child.  Her  hair,  it  was  jet  black,  

curly  and  long.  My  fingers  just  slid  right  through  it.  Holding  her  were  my  most  precious  

moments  while  I  was  still  in  the  hospital.  I  felt  a  deep  attachment  with  her  right  away.  I  

didn’t  like  having  her  out  of  my  sight  for  a  moment  of  the  day.  I  didn’t  need  her  father,  I  felt  

like  I  could  do  this  all  on  my  own,  since  he  wouldn’t  be  in  her  life  anyway.  After  I  got  out  the  

hospital,  I  needed  to  go  back  to  school  and  continue  to  work.  My  mother,  and  other  family  

members  looked  after  her  whenever  I  needed  them  to  and  provided  anything  that  I  needed  

for  her.  I  didn’t  want  to  accept  it  but  I  did  because  I  wanted  the  best  for  her.  Every  time  I  

came  to  get  her  after  I  had  went  to  work  or  school,  she  would  throw  her  arms  up  and  

bounce  up  and  down  with  a  huge  smile  on  her  face.  She  was  the  most  precious  thing  you  

could  ever  imagine.  She  was  mine.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

31    

Way Too High

As Nicky walked through the dark forest, her eyebrows frowned up harshly wondering where she was. Trees were swaying, the sky had no help from the moon, and the ground and plants were glowing from the mist. Nicky looked around with a timid posture, waiting for something, But what? She thought.

Why am I here?

As she continued on her uncertain journey, she felt the ground leave from under her feet. Her long brown hair shot up, as her body plummeted. When she hit the ground, there was no pain instead darkness shrouded her. She flung into a sitting position, and all at once the lost pain hit her. Right, left, behind, forward, her head went searching for clues or answers as to where she was. A long narrow cross caught her blue eyes. Long seats of finely carved wood fitted with plush, red velvet settled on both sides of her in rows. She saw a choir stand before her. She heard singing, Jesus loves me this I know. ”Who’s there?” She asked to the unseen voices. She realized that she was in a church. Looking out the window, she saw dirt. “But why underground?” She wondered. As she walked, she stumbled with a limp and suddenly the flooring hit her. Her vision blurred for just a moment, and when it cleared the gray tiled floor had morphed into to blades of grass.

What the hell? murmered Nicky.

She heard giggling to the right of her, it was coming from three white bunnies. The trees had joined in on what seemed to be a conversation.

“Why am I here?” said Nicky

“You’re high.” The tree said in a slur.

“Are you sure?” disbelief was laced in her words.

She stood and moved toward the tree. Her blank fingertips caressed its course dark bark. It felt so real to her.

The voices seemed to go in and out as Nicky tried to listen. She was lying on the ground, which used to be the cold floor of an underground church. Her pink lips were parted and her lungs moistened at the cold wet air she was breathing in. She felt light, invisible. The mist met with her freckles and her face began to glow.

32    

“Nicki, Wake up! Wake up!”

“Are you still high” whispered her brother.

“You better get yourself together before mom gets home.”

“I might’ve got way to high” said Nicky in a sigh.

33    

Way Too High (Revised)

As Nicky walked through the dark forest, her eyebrows frowned up harshly wondering where she was. Trees were swaying, the sky had no help from the moon, and the ground and plants were glowing from the mist. Nicky looked around with a timid posture, waiting for something, But what? She thought.

Why am I here?

As she continued on her uncertain journey, she felt the ground leave from under her feet. Her long brown hair shot up, as her body plummeted. When she hit the ground, there was no pain instead darkness shrouded her. She flung into a sitting position, and all at once the lost pain hit her. Right, left, behind, forward, her head went searching for clues or answers as to where she was. A long narrow cross caught her blue eyes. Long seats of finely carved wood fitted with plush, red velvet settled on both sides of her in rows. She saw a choir stand before her. She heard singing, Jesus loves me this I know. ”Who’s there?” She asked to the unseen voices. She realized that she was in a church. Looking out the window, she saw dirt. “But why underground?” She wondered. As she walked, she stumbled with a limp and suddenly the flooring hit her. Her vision blurred for just a moment, and when it cleared the gray tiled floor had morphed into to blades of grass.

What the hell? murmured Nicky.

She heard giggling to the right of her, it was coming from three white bunnies. The trees had joined in on what seemed to be a conversation.

“Why am I here?” said Nicky

“You’re high.” The tree said in a slur.

“Are you sure?” disbelief was laced in her words.

She stood and moved toward the tree. Her blank fingertips caressed its course dark bark. It felt so real to her.

The voices seemed to go in and out as Nicky tried to listen. She was lying on the ground, which used to be the cold floor of an underground church. Her pink lips were parted and her lungs moistened at the cold wet air she was breathing in. She felt light, invisible. The mist met with her freckles and her face began to glow.

“Nicki, Wake up! Wake up!”

“Are you still high” whispered her brother.

34    

“You better get yourself together before mom gets home.”

“I might’ve got way to high” said Nicky in a sigh.