AN: During my last year of Middle School (eighth grade) I was lucky enough to have a first year teacher. She introduced us to the joys of writing the five paragraph essay. The next five compositions are my essays. They have been edited little, and explore interesting ideas. I keep them to remind myself of my early writing and to see how I've grown as an academic writer. So, enjoy.

Composition 1: Alas, My Gravestone

The one with a love for Japan.

Japan had always been a favorite country of mine. Which probably prompted my friends to put those words down in the first place. My room had been Japanese style. All the artwork reminded me of the Japanese style of drawing, Anime. Card Captor Sakura was one of these Animes and whenever I thought of flowers cherry blossoms were always in the mix. This was what sakura means in Japanese, cherry blossom. Flowers, and cherry blossoms, were what I thought of when the smell of flowers filled the air like a strong perfume.

Yet as I glanced a round at the other markers in the area, I realized the words on my stone were different. They weren't different in how they said their words; they were in what was said. One marker said," to my darling love from your husband." Sweet words, but too sweet for me. Mine was short and simple, and I liked those words. I knew what they meant. But did the writers know how important this was?

She was a friend, but most importantly she was a sister.

Then the wind grew colder; darkness came in more flooding the farthest of the skies. I didn't want to leave, but at the same time I felt a freedom like the feeling of the ability to fly to the farthest ends of the earth and never return. Something then drew me to the stone. I reached out to touch the stone, and my imagination took over. The harshness of the stone was like Lindsey. She always wanted to be perfect. The coolness of the stone reminded me of Elise. She knew who she was and she accepted herself. I admired her for the acceptance she had for all people including herself. And then there was Monica. Monica is Monica. She could always think of the perfect comeback for all occasions. The smoothness of the stone characterized her well. All the memories from my past flooded back, the yearbooks in which they had written in, the pictures they took of us all. They were all my friends, and sisters in heart, but was I as great of a friend to them as they were to me?

"The one with enough love for a galaxy." -CCS

Still the dark came in faster than before. I studied my gravestone as I had done so many times before. Then something caught my eye. There were more words closer to the bottom, unseen unless one stared at the rock intently.

"The one with enough love for a galaxy." -CCS

If I could have I would have cried right then and there. They knew what I meant. The line was from Card Captor Sakura. I had the line written down in one of my notebooks, but I never put the author of the statement. They really were my sisters, and friends to search out the author for my grave marker. They gave me the best present. The gift of love.

Since I know now they understood what I said to them. Maybe now they will put those words to a wonderful use. My sorrow is gone. I now have Hope for them all and belief they will follow the Light.