Valentine's Day Issue

Written Art Del Rio High School Literary Art Magazine

To love or not to love...

Spring 2023

Photo by Cyndy Alarcon

Co Valentine’s Day, the holiday of love, is always celebrated on February 14th. It's a day where people can finally open up their feelings to the one they love. Usually people give chocolates, stuffed animals, flowers, and love letters to express their love and affection. On this day there are two types of people- the one in a relationship and the loner.

Valentine’s Day isn’t just a day for romantic lovers. It is not hearts and rainbows for the people who were less fortunate in finding a partner to share the day with. Even though February 14th is the day of love, for some people it's also a day that reminds others of how lonely they are. But it does not have to be that way.

It is a day where one can tell the people most dear how much they care about them. Telling the people in your life why you love them is a simple but great way to spread kindness at home and make loved ones feel appreciated.

This special day reminds us that our love is one of the greatest things we can enjoy in life.

-Renee Cordero

Photo by Mariel Talavera

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ontents

6 Eva’s Valentine’s Day A short story

A Dimming Candle Why couples break up before Valentine’s Day

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A History Of Valentine’s Day From where did it originate?

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Writing Prompts

by Mario Perez

Painting by Jacob Ortiz

Write, write, write!

Practice your craft.

For a chance to be published on Written Art’s social media, respond to at least one of the following prompts and send it to writtenart@sfdr-cisd.org. Be sure to tell us your name, grade, and phone number in the email.

Social Media Prompts Though the season is still winter, and the days can be frigid, this time of year is when some feel warmest, not due to a blanket or a nice fire, but because of the thawing embrace that love has to offer. Although on the other side of the coin, some feel equally as cold when they see what they are missing, hence why my social media is clogged half with lonely individuals my age whining about not getting any flowers, and the other half bragging about receiving said flowers. Whether you have a valentine this year, music plays a role during this holiday all the same, whether you are caressing your valentine to some smooth jazz or eating ice cream alone in your room to rock music.

What music are you thinking about on Valentine’s Day? Make a playlist of your favorite love songs or your favorite heartbreak songs. We will post them on our social media so more couples (or singles) can cry or sing along to them all the same.

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Eva’s Valentine’s Day

by Yakari Vasquez It was the crack of dawn on February 14, 2022 when a light tapping awoke Eva from her slumber. “Good morning sunshine,” her mother said as she gently opened the door to her bedroom.

“Good morning mom,” she said as her eyes adjusted to the brightness of the light.

“Go ahead and start getting ready before you’re late for school,” her mother said as she walked out of the bedroom.

When Eva rose from the comfort of her bed and began the day, she thought about one thing and one thing only- today is Valentine’s Day. Eva had her own personal reasons for hating the holiday: last year the boy she had the biggest crush on rejected her while she held up a poster asking him to be her valentine in front of the entire school.

She would be scarred for the rest of her life, and she vowed to never fall for anyone ever again and to never like Valentine’s Day again.

She took a bajillion years to get ready then she headed off for school. It was approximately 8:11am - the time she met her best friend Lexi near the entrance of the school every single day.

Eva and Lexi walked into school together, and all around them there were lovey-dovey couples gifting each other

chocolates, candy, and flowers. Eva and Lexi ignored everyone and went straight to class.

A good twenty minutes into the lesson, Eva was deep in her thoughts wondering if anyone was going to ask her to be their valentine. She doubted it after what had happened the year previously.

“Ivan walked right up to Eva and confessed his feelings for her…”

Eva secretly had a crush on Ivan, a quiet but athletic boy that was in her Spanish class. Out of the blue Eva and the rest of the class heard a subtle knock at the classroom door.

In came Ivan with the most beautiful bundle of flowers she had ever seen along with her favorite snacks and an adorable stuffed bear. Ivan walked right up to Eva and confessed his feelings for her, and then proceeded to ask her to be his valentine. It turns out Ivan had a giant crush on Eva ever since he laid eyes on her. Eva gleefully accepted, and the class cheered.

Eva broke her vow to not ever like Valentine’s but she was perfectly fine with that because she was happy as could be.

THE END

“Red Shadow of Doubts” a photo by David Bosquez 6

Photo by Mariana Peña A Dimming Candle

by Mario Adan Perez As we leave the frigid month of the new year, people forget about their new year’s resolutions and are back to stressing or enjoying the month of love, February. Romantic duos host the brightest burning form of love, not the sort you are obligated to through family or the kind of platonic love that has a far higher success

rate where, for the most part, fewer tears are shed. The passion, care, and intimacy that romance promises are reason for many singles to solemnly yearn for such affections during this time of the year. On the flip side of the coin, many in an actual supposed romantic relationship feel trapped, jeal-

ous, and resentful, and this month, before Valentine’s Day, is usually the straw that breaks the lovers back.

Love burns like a fire, but like an actual fire, it must be constantly fueled and tendered to feel its warmth for long periods of time. Many become burnt out and find out that maybe their “perfect” lover is not who they thought them to be. When so close to another person for so long, it does not take long for the darker side of an individual to show.

Sometimes, both allow strong, impulsive emotions to hurt each other. Being with the right (Or wrong) woman or man can make the minutes feel like hours, the weeks like months.

“Many couples break up right before or around Valentine’s Day as a form of emotional amputation…”

Many feel a need to prove that they indeed lasted a month, because it felt like ages for both of them. It is a common sight to see a friend post on Instagram “One month <3” “5 months <3” then suddenly both of them have erased any evidence of each other’s existence on their accounts. Some couples slowly lose the spark as the petty arguments and unflattering tendencies stack up.

Others lose the spark quite quickly as one or the other says heated, regretful

things, or straight up engages in infidelity.

Love can be messy, and it usually does not end in a daring rush to the airport to tell them their true feelings before it is too late, or reading your now elderly partner a notebook of how you both first met to reignite that spark every single night. Rather, it ends in crying behind closed doors complimented by a very profound “user not found” sight on Instagram.

Valentine’s day brings this end sooner rather than later for plenty of couples, as this day requires commitment. Any sensible person in a relationship is going to expect a movie night, bouquet, or box of chocolates. If one person knows that the relationship is not going anywhere, or they do not like the other at all anymore, why should they put themselves through a day of giving them pricey flowers or being obligated to say words that they stopped meaning a long time ago? Who wants to spend another night right next to a person that has hurt them, or who they no longer enjoy being with?

Many couples break up right before or around Valentine’s Day as a form of emotional amputation, jumping off a train before it stops at yet another night of sobbing.

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A History of Valentine’s Day

by Axel Cannon The spirit of valentines is in the air.

For centuries, on February 14th, many loved ones get together to share memories, flowers, gifts, and most importantly chocolates. Although the tradition began during the Roman empire, it has lasted until this day with minor alterations, but many people are not aware of its complicated history. Valentine’s Day is debated to be in existence for two reasons: to commemorate the life of Saint Valentine and continue the roman festival celebrating Lupercalia.

Many students are taught the story of Saint Valentine in their early school years around the special day; however, this knowledge is not quick to last. As the story goes, Valentine was a priest who served during the third century in Rome under Emperor Claudius II. During his rule, he declared that all soldiers of the Roman Empire be unmarried, but this sparked outrage with this injustice.

Valentine disobeyed this decree and began marrying young lovers in se-

cret. After being discovered, he was sentenced to death. While the actions conducted are harsh and unjust, they may be to thank for Valentine’s Day, or not.

There is a second story relating to Saint Valentine that may be true.

While Claudius II was emperor, Valentine would help Christians escape the inevitable torture in Roman prisons. Over the course of several escapes, he found himself falling in love with the jailor’s daughter to whom he sent the first valentine. Once again, he was later sentenced to death.

As everyone is aware, the Roman people were very amorous. One example of Romans celebrating their

ideas came through the Pagan Festival – a celebration of health and fertility. It was during these festivals that Saint Valentine would attempt to Christianize the people, but he encouraged marriages indirectly. At these festivals, bachelors chose a bachelorette through an urn filled with names. This tradition can be considered very romantic.

If the aforementioned stories of Valentine’s Day are true, it is understandable why people choose to participate in these festive activities.

This day may celebrate the love between two people as well as between the world.

Coloring by Diana Salazar 10