EMPOWERED ME

people around me at the restaurant.

lfriend were, and they just laughed. Since no one would answer me, I decided that it wasn't important. That changed when one day at school. Charles personally asked me once again to be his girlfriend during re

lways around and near to wherever I was. I could feel him looking at me most

was my dancing partner! Even though school-years passed, Charles and I continued participating and were paired-up like always. We danced tog

hearsals nor during any presentations! We just followed o

that he would become the type of man that would follow his woman to the end of the world. I never paid much attention to their remarks, and soon they r

t, so she knew well enough that there was really nothing personal between C

n together, our families really had a great time. I used to play a lot with Isabella, the youngest member of the Fontana family while David was like in charge of looking after us. I have fond memories of Isabe

he was direct with his answers whenever I asked him something. He was always willing to help me out with anything that I asked

gratulate me for my dancing performance and would tell me that I was the best dancer; which truly elevated my young ego. His encouraging words made me want to become a better dancer than what I probably was. In fact, I don't even know if I

that I secretly had a crush on him. In my teenage reasoning, I knew that our love would be forbidden because I was a young teenag

ack of each other easily. The last thing that I heard of Charles is that he had gone to a school that was

separation of David did. What I felt for David was different; i

of Lisbon was a challenge. Without having family members or friends close to us; we became closer as a family. My mother Jessica and my father Tomas Castilla were very supportive in this adjustment process, until we finally mana

Gerardo, a doctor. My brother Jason finished his degree as a primary te

opportunity of getting a decent job. My mother finally returned into teaching, for she had stopped wo

ing these ten years because she had travelled to see us, I was very excited to visit her. My parents were also excited because they would have the chance of seeing the rest of the relatives and friends. My sister Laureen wanted to see her o

ys looks so much smaller than how you used to perceive it! Well, that is exactly what happened to me. My parents' house see

nd we also talked-and-talked non-ending. I was delighted at being with her. I couldn't believ

. I could hardly recognize some of our other family members. It was a great opportunity of getting closer to them once again. Back in my mind, I was intrigued by the fact that we had not seen the Fontana family. My father had not mentioned that we

o so. During the ten years that my family had lived abroad, only Emma and Brenda kept in touch with me. What I never really understood is why Susan stopped writi

nda took turns attending the store, and during the evenings, my uncle would take over so that Emma and Brenda had fre

It was nice spending time with my cousins especially because we were almost the same age. Emma wa

onestly having a wonderful time with them. Emma and Brenda were also single, just like myself, although Emma did have a forma

he living room, and asked me to go with her into the grocery store where she was working. I followed her without a

She smiled, stepped out of the store and immediately returned with a young man at he