Mandy Raquel
Bio
I’m a concert junkie who loves to go on spontaneous trips,eat life changing food,and enjoy life with family and friends who have become family. Living under an Arizona sky, I’m a dreamer and believer.
Instagram: @mandiee822
Twitter: @mandiee
Stories (24/0)
Starlight and New Beginnings
My city is on fire. Ash rains down on me from the sky. I stand in the street surrounded by chaos, smoke, and burning buildings. My father runs up behind me, picking me up in one fell swoop. It was the last time I felt his strong arms around me. I don’t remember what he looks like, my memories are gone. The fires are the earliest memory I have as a child. I can’t remember my mother, or if I had any siblings. I only recall my father hiding me in a cellar with two other children. That life and time seem so long ago. I sometimes wonder if I imagined it all.
By Mandy Raquel3 years ago in Fiction
Little Fixes
I don’t remember how to be alone or independent. The kitchen faucet in my tiny apartment has been dripping since early morning. I’m no expert at repairing things. My solutions are temporary ones. Little fixes that won’t solve the problem long-term. Donovan would know how to fix it long-term. I almost call him out of habit because I still have moments where I forget. I still have the urge and the longing to text him or call him when I feel helpless. I still want his comfort and security even though I know my decision was right.
By Mandy Raquel3 years ago in Fiction
Wine-Mate: Chocolate Dessert
December 19th, 2035 (15 years after the virus) The city was different in the day. People were able to roam in public if we all wore masks and kept our distance. We still couldn’t leave our borough’s, not even in the daytime. I sat alone in Central Park and enjoyed the sunlight that broke through the polluted sky. A man and woman walked by hand in hand. The joyful look in their eyes was all I could see. It caused my heart to ache with longing and envy. I wanted that with Ben.
By Mandy Raquel3 years ago in Fiction
7 Things Worth Fighting For
What are some things that you would be willing to fight for? Some people might say they'll fight for their country, their religion, or even the perfect person. But what about fighting to live your best life and make sure you're happy? We all deserve happiness and it's not always easy to find. So why not take a step back, assess where you want to go, and then get there in whatever way possible.
By Mandy Raquel3 years ago in Lifehack
Painting a Memory
The red 'open' neon sign on the door of the Pita Bread restaurant flickered like a bug zapper. It reminded Atticus of the bug zapper he'd once had hanging from the front porch in Louisiana. His mind filled with memories of himself drinking ice-cold sweet tea on the steps of that same porch. He’d watch the sunset and listen to the zaps coming from the bug zapper. The tall fields of grass, the warm southern breeze hitting his face, and the smell of honeysuckles in the air.
By Mandy Raquel3 years ago in Fiction
The ‘Toxic’ and 'Outrageous' Way Britney Spears Has Been Treated
Britney Spears has been a household name for me since I was 12 years old. I will even go as far as saying I idolized her. I wanted to be everything she was, from her clothes to her hair, to the way she danced I embraced it all. She had a magic about her that resonated with not only me but a wide majority of girls and boys. She was known as the Princess of Pop before her 18th birthday. Britney embodied confidence on and off stage, and even though she worked hard for what she had, the media still managed to drag her name through the mud at a young age. For the first 4 years of her career she was unstoppable, and it seemed like the only way she could go was up, until she hit the top. The saying goes, what goes up must eventually come down, and when Britney least expected it, she was pushed off the top. She didn’t face a graceful fall; she took a violent tumble for the entire world to see.
By Mandy Raquel3 years ago in Humans
Tree of Hearts
Burgundy and violet were the two colors of my wife’s hair. She was a creative artistic woman that I’d had the pleasure of loving and spending 5 years with. If I concentrate hard enough while closing my eyes, I can still hear her laugh. Loud and boisterous you could hear it from anywhere in the house. No one had a laugh like my wife, no one. It was hers and hers alone. If you heard it, you knew it was hers instantly.
By Mandy Raquel3 years ago in Fiction
Navigating the World of Gen Z as a Millennial
There is an obvious tension between Gen Z and Millennials when it comes to what the other should and shouldn’t be allowed to like and dislike. If you have ever found yourself deep in a TikTok scroll-fest then you have more than likely seen the videos of Gen Z ridiculing Millennials on what we wear, how we do our hair, and even what kind of music we listen to. Millennials have been labeled as ‘nostalgia junkies’ because we often embrace anything and everything that reminds us of the days when life was at its simplest. Millennials are the first generation to grow up with the internet. The sound of the dial-up internet connecting to the world wide web will be with us till the end of our days. Gen Z is the first generation that grew up surrounded by technology and high-speed internet. By the time they could walk, the smart phone and other ‘smart’ devices were already in existence. Dial-up was a thing of the past, and easy access to the internet was in the palm of our hands. Though both generations like to knock on the other, we should really consider being allies instead of foes.
By Mandy Raquel3 years ago in Humans
This Band Brought the Concert Experience Back Delivery Style
The need for live music has been felt by many of us. This drought that the pandemic has caused for people; myself included, who used to frequent concerts regularly is real. I’ve been going to concerts since I was a teenager. Saving my money to travel between California and Arizona to see my favorite bands live became a lifestyle that I was not ashamed of. I didn’t care if I’d already seen my favorite bands live twice or sometimes three times in one year. My mom would always say “You’re going to see them again?” Yes, mom! It wasn’t just a want it became a need. I made myself familiar with the barricade and knew the perfect spots to stand where I wouldn’t get sucked into the mosh pit. Tricks and trades you learn as you become a frequent concert-goer.
By Mandy Raquel3 years ago in Beat
I Don’t Know Him
He came to me in a dream. His warm southern drawl comforted me as I floated through the darkness. I don’t know where he’s from, but I could easily guess Georgia or maybe Texas I wasn’t sure. He was just a voice summoning me to him like a siren to the rocks. His face slowly began to materialize as the light broke through my darkness.
By Mandy Raquel3 years ago in Humans