NOA AND HER FAMILY

Christmas week is in full swing at my parent's house. The entire Rios family is coming. I'm excited to see my family I haven't seen in years. This is not just the Rios family Christmas but also the Rios family reunion.

The Christmas week started early Monday morning with me and my sisters helping mom fix the house while the men folk my dad and brothers set up the decorations.

Once me and my sisters finished fixing the house, we went to help mom prepare dinner for the next day. Then we helped mom bake. Baking is my favorite thing to do. Plus, we sang Christmas songs.

The next day was Christmas Eve. It was a fun day. The Rios family began to arrive. My grandparents came first. They always bring the best presents. Next came the aunts and uncles with the cousins.

It was getting loud and crazy. That's what Christmas is all about. You know what's even more crazy. The Rios family Christmas sing along.

We as a family have terrible sing voices. That's what makes it fun. For the first two hours we sang and sang and laughed. Then we got hungry.

My mom is the best cook. We all love her food and the family we haven't seen in a long time also loved her food. The Rios family are big eaters. Mom made so much food that it was gone quickly.

After dinner we listened to music and talked. The Rios family is quite the funny bunch. Joke after joke was told by the cousins. I never laughed so much in my life.

As is tradition in the Rios family, we opened one present at midnight. I got a necklace with my name on it from my parents. I love my necklace. Then it was bedtime.

Christmas morning began as any other day. Some of us woke up early. The rest woke up late. Mom along with my grandma and the aunts got up early to make breakfast.

At 10:30 we gathered in the dining room to have breakfast. Then after breakfast we put on our best clothes and went to church. After church me, my sisters, brothers and the cousins had a snowball fight. Then we made a snowman.

Mom made an amazing lunch. Then we opened up the rest of our presents. I got so many amazing presents. New clothes, perfumes, gift cards. We sang some more and had a dance contest.

Christmas was amazing. My family is the best. They are the most amazing people. The fun wasn't over. Christmas week was still in full swing.

It's the day after Christmas. The family is still having fun. Today the woman are going shopping while the men stay home to watch football.

So, again we got up early. Some were late getting up. Mom made a big breakfast. We talked about our plans for the day.

Breakfast finished fast. I went upstairs and got dressed. I put my new clothes on. I look at myself in the mirror. I like the way I look. I grab my bag and go downstairs and wait.

I found my dad, brothers and the rest of the Rios men gathered around the T.V. They didn't even notice me. I smile.

Here comes my mom, sisters, grandma and the rest of the Rios women. We're ready to go. We say goodbye to the men.

We hop in the car and off to the mall we go. I make small talk with any cousins. I miss seeing them. I'm glad they came to spend Christmas with us.

Wow, the mall is packed. Mom thankfully found a parking real fast. For the next few hours me and the family roam the mall going into the stores buying whatever is on sale.

We are heading home to have lunch with the guys. I bought lots of clothes and sneakers. We made it back home. The guys are still watching football.

Mom is starting dinner. I'm talking with my sisters. The rest of the Rios family are talking with each other when we hear a loud bang.

The room grows silent. I try to find the source of the bang. My family does too. Then I hear my grandma screaming. I turn around and see her on the floor with my grandpa. He has blood all over himself.

My father and my uncles run to him but my grandpa lays lifeless on the floor. Then another bang. My grandma falls to the floor. Everyone is looking to find the source.

Then another bang and another one. My dad and one of my uncles fall to the floor. Someone is shooting at us. My mom and aunts scream. Panic is engulfing my family. My family starts to run.

I stand in place watching as some unknown force is gunning my family down. I'm so scared yet I can't run.

My mom, sisters, brothers, aunts and cousins are running for their lives. More bangs.I see the bodies of my uncles. I hear the screams of my mom. Bang! My mom has been shot.

Where are my sisters? I don't see them. More loud bangs. Oh My God! My brothers. My aunts. My cousins. They are all on the floor, blood all over them.

"Run Not." I tell my self. I will myself to move. I can't. I hear my name being called. I can't make out who it is.

I hear my name being called again. I see my older sister Claudia running to me. She's saying something to me. I can't make out what she's saying.

I feel her shaking me. I can't move. Bang! Claudia falls to the floor. "No!" I scream. I finally hear myself.

Oh no! Claudia. Oh God! No. My family. My loving family. Tears fall down my face.

I hear him. I hear the shooter. He's coming for me. I can't leave them. I just can't. I hear the clicking of the gun.

"Run Noa." I tell myself again. I can't run. I need to be with my family. The shooter is right on top of me.

I face him. He points the gun at me. I ask him "Why?" He shoots me in the stomach.

I lift my hand up and take off his mask. He shoots me again. I look into his eyes or should I say my eyes.

I fall to the ground and close my eyes. The alarm is ringing. I open my eyes. I'm in my bed. I get up real fast.

I was shot. My family is dead. I'm alive. I race downstairs. I see my mom and my sisters in the kitchen. I see my dad and brothers in the front yard putting up decorations. I look at the calendar. It says December 23rd.