Sofia Sencion

Professor Erik Fuhrer

ENG 1000C
9 March 2015
Memories
Memories are hard for me to key into. I believe it has to do with Freud's theory of
our unconscious mind, which is that we block events that are too traumatic for us to deal
with. This is the same reason why other memories can last a lifetime.
I love you was one of the last words my father told me, and right then and there
I knew something was wrong. I was too young to realize that after that moment my best
friend was gone forever. I'll start off by describing what I do remember. I remember being
in kindergarten and being in school which seemed like any other ordinary day. I had my
long black hair in pigtails that almost hung by my waist as I wore my sky blue, royal blue
and black plaid uniform dress with high black socks with black shoes. I remember getting
called down for early dismissal with a huge grin from ear to ear on my face just as any
5year old would have if they got to leave private school early.
All of a sudden I remember having the look of confusion when I saw that my
great aunt was in the main office waiting for me. It was rare that she was around the
family to being with, but thinking so innocently and positively I just ran to her as she
proceeded to picked me up. I remember asking why she picked me up instead of my
mother, which was the routine. She hesitated as I looked at her puzzled with the same
look dogs have when they look at you and tilt their heads. Then, she finally explained that
we were heading to the hospital. My father was sick with cancer for as long as I could

remember. Hearing that we were going to the hospital didnt frighten or worry me at all
because I was used to being in and out of hospitals to visit him, but once I actually
arrived to the hospital it seemed different.
This wasnt the average routine hospital visit and I started to realize that when I
got closer to my dads room. It was like my whole family was on that one floor and they
looked at me with what I realized now as pity and sorrow. With every step my heart
started to race faster. I finally got to my mother and I knew from the look in her eyes that
something really bad had happened. No words were spoken at this time as my arms were
bounded around my mothers neck and tears just started to run down my face even
though I did not know the severity of the situation. She finally took me into my fathers
hospital room and said your dad has been waiting for you and kissed my forehead.
We both now stood right in front of the rooms threshold, hands locked into one
another as she squeezed my hand tighter and said, Whenever youre ready. The walk to
his bed seemed like it lasted a lifetime. Then, everything else is like a blur. I remember
sitting next to him on his bed like always and his last words were I love you Of course
he said more but for some reason those 3 words are all I can tell you he said and those
three words will always stay with me and mean more to me than thousand words. I didnt
know it at the time that even until this day that day would have such a tremendous impact
on my life.
It was just my mom and I for a while after. She was all I had until she met
someone she thought worthy of taking the role of a father figure in my life. They
eventually got married, after my approval of course. I didnt want anything more than to
see my mom smile like she use to before. My step-father was born and raised in

Dominican Republic, a friend of the family actually. He gave up everything he knew

including his family to marry my mom and move back to The States with us. Before this I
witnessed my mom struggle two jobs just to support us. I knew that Alex, my step dad,
would change that. They compliment each other so well and I will never and have never
referred to him as my step-father. He has helped my mom raise me since I was 8. He
treats me as if I was his own. I couldnt appreciate his sacrifices enough.
Fast Forward to my Sweet Sixteen June 5th, 2010. Another day I will never
forget. At the moment, I also did not realize the significance of that day. It started super
early like it felt like the crack of dawn as I was woken up by my mother. She jumped on
my bed and like screamed TODAYS THE DAYYYY!! I think she was just as excited as
I was honestly. After a full year of planning, arguing, and agreeing to disagree the day
was finally here making sure everything fell into place it had my anxiety levels at an all
time high. While I was getting ready to get my hair done each one of my female court
members arrived at my house one by one. First, my best friend Valerie, she was just as
excited as I was. Then came Crystal, Ava, Seidee, Emily and of course Nicole. Nicole
was always the last to arrive especially if it was in the morning.
Once they all got to my house we went our separate ways. I had the earliest
appointment to get my hair done. I swear the lady put on sooooo much hairspray my hair
was as stiff as aboard. After all the tugging, pulling, and bobby pins, trust me my hair was
was not moving an inch no matter what I did that day. The next thing to cross off the list
was to get my makeup done. Thankfully the lady was meeting me at my house because I
was already exhausted. I Finally got to eat breakfast at like 11 before getting my makeup
done. This would be the second time I ever had makeup on so, as you could imagine, I

was pretty stoked. It was extremely awkward having someone hovering over me and
feeling the strides of different brushes against my skin. It seemed like it took five to ten
minutes, which was incredible because it would take a lifetime for me to recreate the
natural but yet dramatic look she constructed on my face. By this time, my friends I were
back at the house and looked like quadruplets of all different complexions, and I was
beyond ready to put my dress on and take pictures.
Right before I was about to change into my dress my stepfather handed me a little
box that fit right into my palm. I opened it and it was the most beautiful purple diamond
ring. Its a tradition that on your sweet 16 your parents give you something that represents
your past, present and future. The ring symbolized that so perfectly, by having three main
diamonds one a little higher than the one next to it. My stepfather said Yo se que estas
crecidendo en una dama y no puede esta chiquita pada siempre, perosiempreserasmi
nina In translation, I know your getting older and maturing but youll always be my little
girl. Those words meant a lot to me, because although he raised me since my father
passed away and though we know we love each other, but we dont say it often. We are
more alike than we think sometimes, for example we are not the affectionate type. Its
just like an unwritten and unspoken that we both understand how much we care for each
other.
He started silently crying as I gave him the biggest hug and expressed how much I
loved their gift. After, my mom helped me put on my dress, which was such a deep and
yet vibrant purple with a zillion beads and stones. It had a corset lace back felt like the
scene of Titanic when Rose was getting ready for the ball and her mom tightens her
corset to were she could barley breathe. My aunt was also in the room and said her

famous Beauty is pain. I later realized how true that quote is. Anyways, After I got
ready and took endless amount of pictures (No seriously, I have like 5 photo albums of
pictures) It was finally time to go on the party bus to head to the hall.
Ahhh that party bus was so much fun, it was me, my court, which consisted of 6 of
my female friends, my little sister, my younger cousin, and 7 of my guy friends. They had
lights, the music was blasting from my iPod, and everyone was dancing and just vibing it
was great. My little sisters dressed ripped in the process, but I wasnt even stressed at the
time. We go to the hall and thats when all the nerves hit me. Everyone I knew was
behind those doors. This was worse then having butterflies. After heading in and doing
what my court and I rehearsed for months (everything went as planned, thank god!) it
was time for the father daughter dance. This This moment is so significant to me. It
was not your typical father daughter dance because I had three relationships that were so
meaningful to me. First I waltzed with my uncle from my real fathers side, when I got
along with so well when I was younger. He would go to all my school functions such as
breakfast with dad after my father had passed. At that moment I remembered our late
night television binges. He would always make my grilled cheese to perfection, not too
much cheese toasted just right without the crust. Then he gave me to my uncle from my
mothers side who was always there for me advice wise, as I got older. We identified
ourselves as the intellectual ones of the family. There wasnt a thing I couldnt go to him
for. Lastly he pasted me off to my step dad, although I never introduce him as such
because he treats me as if I was his daughter. He then changed my shoes, which
symbolized the transformation from a girl to a young lady, boy did that bring even more
tears to his eyes. After all the sentimental elements the party began and it was on of the

best nights of my life. I couldnt thank my parents enough for it.

In that moment I lost my father and best friend from my Sweet 16 I realized
something. Yes, my father is not physically here but I know he is always watching over
me and in his place I have my uncles and stepfather to care for me. He did not leave me
empty handed and although I miss him dearly and I am my fathers daughter I wouldnt
be where I am without the contributions of having those crucial father figures in my life.
Each event has shaped me into the person I am today.