The Pursuit Of Life

Introduction To My Universe

Hey. I'm Rosa Helina, but people call me Roe. I live in Havana, Cuba. I'm 21 years old. What is the Pursuit of life? Well here's my story.  I live in an apartment. With just my mom, her boyfriend and my grandmother. We moved from Georgia 5 years ago to Cuba. My dad had just divorced my mom. We had no money. No home. We were all alone. Eventually we had to go live in Cuba with my grandmother.  People in Cuba are very poor. I never imagined I would be poor. I had everything until my dad left us and filed for divorce. He also lives in California. My dad is a millionaire. He now has a wife and a little baby boy.  It just makes me so upset every time I think about it. My mom is not doing well. She drinks. She does drugs. Since our apartment is two story, my mom lives in the first story with her boyfriend. I live with my grandma in the second story. I just got out of school. I want to be a surgeon. I would love to help people. I'm also a Christian. My grandma and I both are. But my mother on the other hand, well she is atheist and her boyfriend as well. I wish she could see the truth that we see. She is just so lost. I turned 18 just a few weeks ago. I have worked really hard and I want to leave Cuba. I have enough money and everything. My grandmother is so nice. I love her, she's the only person that understands me. Music inspires me, I would like to be a singer one day. My Abuela says I sing good. I have never had a boyfriend. Not even a guy best friend. A lot of people bullied me when I lived in the U.S. I was fat. But when I came to Cuba my Abuela put me on a diet and I lost all that weight. My mom screams at me a lot. And most of the times it makes me want to runaway. But my grandma always comforts me and makes me feel better. I don't want to leave her alone. That's why I haven't left. I already finished high school. So I will start college in the United States. I have an Aunt that lives in New York. She's rich. She is my dad's sister. Her name is Jolie. Aunt Jolie. I have always wanted to go to New York. I love the cold weather. And the snow! So I'm thinking about going there if I ever leave. My Abuela said she wants me to go and study and fulfill my dreams. And you know what? That's what I'm going to do.