The tragic events that were developing would change my life forever. ... Others were running away in fear of their lives. ... If he only knew about the pain people were going through, maybe he would act differently. ... "Nobody in their right mind would ever do this," my wife exclaimed as tears started to roll down her face. ... Tears started to fill my eyes as my wife cried and said sorrowfully, "What about all the children whose parents won't be coming home?" ...

• Word Count: 598
• Approx Pages: 2
• Grade Level: High School

They left their children there to play. My mother looked at me and said "I"m going to go now. ... They were only trying to keep their parents from leaving them. ... I saw a table with crayons and paper and I just walked towards it and stood beside the miniscule seat watching to see if anyone was going to stop me from drawing. ... I like going and seeing them, mostly to remind them of how we all were in kindergarten and of course to see if they remember me. ...

• Word Count: 510
• Approx Pages: 2
• Grade Level: High School

Samantha, her mother, and her father were all devastated and fear was overtaking their hearts. As a few days past, they were all waiting for the phone call from the oncologist that would change their lives forever. ... Samantha's eyes were throbbing, she was in so much pain, and she didn't want to live if her mother couldn't. ... Although, the last moments they spent with her here on earth were full of sorrow, they both knew that she would never suffer in the place she was going to. Together they watched God take their precious angel home. ...

• Word Count: 1024
• Approx Pages: 4
• Grade Level: High School

I had to go through training just like each of you. ... " Gracie grabbed my hand, and held on tightly as both parents said their good byes. Gracie looked up at me with tears in her eyes and said, "I am ready to go now.... She wanted to go back home to her mom and dad, but they never were approved by the state. ... I have four beautiful children, and two were adopted from Jamaica. ...

• Word Count: 1079
• Approx Pages: 4
• Grade Level: High School

They weren't all bad, some were actually pretty nice. ... The thing I remember most about her were her eyes, not so much the color but the fact that they were kind. ... Like always I had to share a room with my sister while my brothers had their own. ... I never could get down there when the party was going on. ... I can still remember it, my brothers were down stairs causing some type of trouble, and my sister was in the kitchen watching Yolanda cook. ...

• Word Count: 906
• Approx Pages: 4
• Grade Level: High School