Monica Loza Ms.

Gardener English 10, Period 1 4 August 2013 How I Met Myself I stare at this blank piece of paper questioning why I even have it, but hoping it healthy as to explain what happened. Back in 2062 I found myself at the bank of lake Sonoma staring at my reflection in the deep blue water, filled with laughing children and their parents. As I contemplated my aged yet energized face, I recalled a certain blue ski boat like the one my father used to take me out on. This startled me and I began to walk towards it along the bank, between the refreshing water and the edge of the green mysterious woods that surround. I found a relatively flat boulder halfway emerged in water and rested my aching legs. Clutching onto my gold locket, running my fingers over the engravings, I gazed across the water, and found myself lost in the memory of my youth. Abruptly interrupting my comforting thoughts, I was splashed by a couple of kids running through the slow waves. Immediately I recognized the slow beat of my life-long favorite song Maybe escaping the loud speakers of that blue boat. Suddenly a young girl, no older than 12 began singing along in a peculiarly familiar voice starting softly but ending strong and filled with confidence, Maybe Im a dreamer, Maybe Im misunderstood, Maybe youre not seeing the side of me you should.... I glanced over my shoulder to look at her and didnt look away for what felt like hours.

Excuse me, sweetie? I said attempting to turn her attention away from the water. Uhm, yeah? she answered perplexed. Is that blue boat over there yours? I asked directing my finger to the baby blue Reinell securely tied to one of the thick redwoods. Yeah. Its my dads... We just bought it a few weeks ago. She answered my questions with a certain suspicion.. Your name doesnt happen to be Monica does it? Startled and caught off guard she slowly replied, H-how do you know that? Well because....well... my names Monica Loza... and I think youre me. Looking at me as though crazy, an uncomfortable silence followed until she found her now reserved voice again, Look lady I dont know what you're trying to tell me but I think youve got the wrong girl here. Trying to convince her, I began to ramble, I know youre favorite song was just on, Maybe I know youre room is full of fiction books and youre reading the twilight series right now. Probably Eclipse. I also know you love looking at the sun and thinking about what goes on beyond it. As she began to turn and walk away I called back, No. I know this is weird but im right! Listen, I can prove it! Reaching to the back of my neck, I shakingly unclasped the locket that had hung on my neck for years. Immediately, she reached for the one that hung on hers and quickly demanded, Whered you get that! She requested an answer again this time slowly, Where did you get that?

My mother gave it to me when I was about your age. No. Thats impossible. How- why- I- I dont understand. This isnt right. She held the two identical necklaces gently in her palms, carefully examining them and the engravings on mine, Two thousand sixteen? Its only two thousand nine. Why would I ever put that on here? I know what you're going through right now. I know what happened to your mom last month. Youre feeling scared and guilty but mostly upset and angry at her, and its okay to feel that way. As a tear trickled down her smooth pale face, I knew I had her attention. Youre lying. How could you know any of that? I told you. Youre me and I lived through the same thing about fifty years ago. In the year of two thousand nine, I was only ten, and my older brother was set to be married on the fourth of July. Unexpectedly, as the dinner rehearsal began, my mother became spastic. Her body moved as though she was a malfunctioning robot, moving her limbs uncontrollably left and right. She had begun to have a seizure and it was that day that I found out my mother was an alcoholic. Even fifty-two years later, the traumatic events that occurred that day, were painted freshly in my mind and no amount of time could erase the pain and fear I felt that day. From that day forward I was in constant fear that I would lose my mother at any second. Her glossy eyes shone through her face so I began again, Everything will be okay. I can assure you that what youre going through will surely make you a stronger more understanding person. What I neglected to tell her was that I lost my mom as would she a few years later in two thousand sixteen. But as she walked away I knew nothing ever eases the pain of

loss. I learned a lot about myself and why I had to go through the things that I did: Long after that day I contemplated and continue to do so, wondering what exactly had happened that day and how I met myself. .