Jordan Rivers - The Natural Grouch Face

 A Love Letter To you, For you.
By: Jamilia Hall

   Every assignment throughout the years I was asked "Who is that significant person in your life?" My answer always reverted back to my god father, my house mom or someone else. Of course they are very important to me and forever grateful for the life lessons I have learned from them, but the answer has always been literally right next to me since the day I was born, my twin sister. I do not know why it took me so long to realize this. I guess when someone is always by your side, you kind of forget they are next to you.

Grandma, Jelmi, Jamilia, Jamaal 

  A story my house mom always brings up is a time when we were four years old, we had just moved into our new home. A home that was bigger than life with 6 bedrooms and 10 other little girls our age running around. My sister and I have always been intertwined and not in a read each other thoughts kind of way (a question everyone always asks once I announce I have a twin.) It was a couple days in and we had just finished eating dinner and I went to the computer lab to start my homework and my sister started cleaning the dining room table. My house mom came to check on me, but when she tried to walk in, the door was locked. "Jamilia, open the door!" She said in a stern voice banging on the window.

   

 I ran under the table and started to scream like my body was on fire. Next thing you know my sister is screaming for her life, drowning in tears. My house dad rushing to my sister trying to figure out why she was crying, but the truth is my sister did not even know why she was crying either. By this time security and a higher power was at our house trying to pry the door open. Finally when the door was opened it was like silence sucked all the noise out the room. my house mom ran and picked me up and my sister also ran to me and cried "don't do that again!" Unfortunately that was only the beginning of my rebellious years. 

     My House parents and I laugh about this moment now, but at the time there was anything but laughter in the room. I think that was the first time I realized my sister cared about me, that I actually cared about her. We were more than sisters, she was my best friend, she was my soulmate, literally my other half, but do not expect me to say that to her face, because I will deny. Her Bright red hair pointing to the gods, dark wing eye liner matched with a dark lipstick trying to portray her wild personality. She was always the extrovert throwing herself into situations, meeting new people and loving every second of it. I am a sit back and observe my surroundings and maybe if everything looks good i'll come out to play, Probably not though. Mimi was anything but shy, she was a what you see is what you get personality, I was a once I know you you wouldn't believe you ever chose the words "shy" to describe me. We were so completely different, but also completely the same. 

Hershey Half Marathon

she was with me at every 5k or half marathon I ever ran, every soccer or basketball game, and at every gymnastic performance I had. 

    The lights burning through our skin right on cue, forcing my eyes to stay open at 6 am. My Brain forgetting how to do basic movements as I stand front and center. "OH LORD, Not today!" I yell to myself as I regretted my life decision of running 13.1 miles, but also remembering the months of training I had done prior.

The gun goes off and like second nature we start to run trying to erase the negative thoughts dancing in our brains and focus on the main goal, to finish. I look over at my sister for confirmation to branch out on my own and she gently nods her head and smiles like the proudest mom ever and a grin ear to ear "you got this!"

"So do you!" I yelled over the thousand of people who were surrounding me.  

 I turn the volume of my music up until the sound is pounding my eardrums and the beat of the music is mimicking my steps. I let my body take over and what took months to train for was over in minutes. 

 High School Graduation 2019

    I look back at the most important details of my life and there she was, in every one of them. Years of forced matching outfits, years of random singing contests or dance battles, years of midnight drives singing to the top of our lungs with sundaes filled with laughter, but a life time of birthdays, a life time of memories, but most importantly a lifetime filled of love because of you, with you.