Secret Diary of a Gypsy Heart Chapter 1 Excerpt
Life doesn’t present stones to bruise your
soul,
But challenges to leap, to make you whole.
Embrace each dawn with eyes anew,
With a heart wide open, and goals to pursue.
May tomorrow's light guide you on your way,
Bringing you nearer to your goals each day.
Chapter 1: Serena
If you’re reading this, it
means I’ve passed on. I’m Serena Raye Sanchez, and I penned this diary back
when I was in my late 30s, a time when my hair was starting to grey, and my
body was beginning to show signs of aging. In my youth, I was considered quite
attractive, sporting light brown or sometimes burgundy hair, depending on the
dye I chose at the time. Honestly, I can’t even recall what my natural hair
color is anymore, but I can confidently say I was never a blonde. I’ve
always had a slim figure and striking hazel eyes, a trait I got from my mother.
My mom, Maria, had a rich heritage, being both Irish and Mexican,
while my dad, Scott, was of Caucasian descent. I also have a younger sister,
Caroline, who is happily married and has two kids of her own. As I pen down these thoughts in my diary, I
can't help but reflect on the fact that both my parents have passed away, may
they rest in peace. I have three daughters: Sarah, Salem, and Shari. It’s funny
how all their names start with an S, just like mine. Before diving in, I should mention that this
diary covers all the crushes and romances I've had over the years. Think
of it as a bit of a confession, though I’m pretty sure some people wouldn’t
forgive me if they stumbled
upon it. I may be dead, and it doesn’t bother me, but it will hurt my family. Despite everything, I am
and always will remain the person people knew and loved regardless of my flaws.
No
one’s perfect and not everyone walks the righteous path so I do have Haters
that will always judge but that doesn’t matter, not anymore. There
was a time when I believed everyone had a soulmate, a spiritual twin somewhere
out there. Finding him or her may take a person a Lifetime but people do find
each other, some do that is. When I
was younger and single, I was totally into soap operas and really enjoyed them.
I often found myself daydreaming about meeting my Knight, my Angel, or my
Soulmate. But before diving into that, I should mention my first crush, which
might not excuse my later choices but definitely gives a glimpse into who I
used to be. So, let’s rewind to high school, where I encountered my first major
crush on a guy named Alex Romero. He had a bit of a following, with dark brown hair,
light hazel eyes, and clear skin, he stood around five foot five back then, but
I’m sure he grew taller as time went on. I used to think he was flawless, but
looking back, I realized I was wrong. As for myself, I had my own struggles. I
was a bit on the heavier side, especially in the rear department, what I affectionately
called, "junk in the trunk." Combine that with my low self-esteem and a
hefty dose of shyness, and you’ve got a recipe for some seriously awkward times
during those years.
I wasn't really the kind of girl Alex would
notice or date; I was pretty average in looks. Still, I had a huge crush on
him. And no, we never had sex, and I didn't even think about it. Why? Because I
was brought up in a strict conservative Mexican family. Yes, there are
conservative Mexican families out there, contrary to what some may believe. I didn't
look like the girls he was into, and I wasn't eager to lose my virginity, so I
held myself back. I believed that when I met the person, the right one, I’d know
it. The first time I laid eyes on Alex: It was
like a refreshing gust of wind ruffling my hair, that one instant when a new
thread was added to the intricate fabric of my life, a moment that would
forever hold significance for me. Alex and I were in the same English class,
and there I was, caught without any paper to jot down my essay. So, I turned to him and asked if he could
spare me a sheet. He said, “Hi,” and handed me a few sheets of paper. Our eyes
met and something happened, at least for me it did. “Who is this guy talking to
me? He is so cute,” I thought to myself. My mouth dropped, my heart
skipped a beat, I got that feeling in my stomach, butterflies. I've definitely
had my share of crushes on guys before. Back in middle school, I liked two
boys, Chuck and Simon, but they always went for the thinner, cuter girls. I
thought Alex was different, or at least I hoped so. If I had looked like those other
girls, he liked maybe we could have been a couple and gotten closer, but my low
self-esteem always held me back.
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