Dominica Dominguez ch3- Why me

Dominica (22) her boyfriend Kampol Do (27)
Narrated by Dominica

Kampol and I have been doing great this past two years. We have managed to finally get our little farm on the road map to success. It takes a lot but for now we are working hard at it.

Kampol has been super quiet lately. I think he still wants me to focus on getting my college degree. I know its the best for me to complete but for now I try to focus on the farm and my current job.

I thought the Kampol was quiet with me because of the lack of interest for my college degree. He asked if we could talk and I was getting ready for another lecture. This time it was different. I could tell that he was tearing up and I asked what was wrong.

When he told me I did not want to hear it. They had found a tumor in his brain and they only gave him six months to live. I could not believe what I was hearing. How could it be that he could be diagnosed like that? I felt my whole world ending.

He got up and hugged me while I just cried and cried. He told me that everything was going to be alright and that he wanted me to keep living. I could not bare it.....Why did this have to happen to me?

my mom came to give me support. She still could not believe that I told her that Kampol was sick and dying. She hugged me and told me to be strong for Kampol.

Ever since he told me I spend every waking moment with him. I guess part of his illness is him forgetting things. There are times when he does not remember who I am anymore. I am only grateful for those days when he knows who I am and cuddles with me for hours.

I quit my job because our plants need more care and so does Kampol. He sleeps more and does not have the energy to come and help in the garden anymore.

It takes me all day to get all these plants tended to. I really need to expand in order to make ends meat. I don't know how to do it and we are not financially stable yet.

When I come sometimes I notice that Kampol has made his way down to the living room. He falls asleep on the couch and its a big deal to wake him. When he does not recognize me he becomes agitated and asks why I am bothering him.

My parents insist that I move back home and have Kampol placed in hospice care. I can not leave my home. My moms dont understand that this desert as they call it is home to me. I live here now and I can not see myself heading back to Viramontes anytime soon.


Kampol took a turn for the worse. The doctor came over and told me that the end was nearing for him. It was closer than he had originally thought. I was distraught and I sat on the bed that night and told him how much I loved him. I told him that I dreamed of us growing old together and having kids one day. Now all that was taken away from me.

I had left him to go get him some food to eat when I heard intense screaming from our bedroom. I ran up to see what it was and it was Kampol hacking up blood. I did not know what to do. One minute he could not breathe..

The next minute he was lying on the floor. I managed to call 911 to come and get him to the hospital.

The ambulance arrived but they told me that Kampol was dead. He no longer had a pulse but they would try to resuscitate him on the way to the hospital.

Kampol had died and now I needed to make burial arrangements for him.

Just like he wished, I buried him on our property. I just hope that I do not have to move him. I do not know how much longer I will be able to pay for this house. Hopefully I will be able to manage it.

Dominica Dominguez-Chapter 2- A new beginning

Dominica (20) Kampol (25)

The death of Darius has really hit me hard. I still can not believe that my twin brother is no longer here with me. I feel emptiness when I think of him. Kampol has been great in helping me through my mourning period. For now we are just content on living together in Paradise Cove.

Kampol has been trying his hand at fixing things around the house and I am not sure that he knows what he is doing. I remember my moms getting into arguments over things like this so I just let him be.

We took out a loan and decided to try this vegatable gardening thing. Since Paradise Cove is a new community there is not much work here at all. For now this is the income that we are getting.

Not soon after I was settled I asked my whole family to come out and visit. Yes when I say whole family I mean it. My mom Africa was glad to see me but kept telling me that she was surprised I had not melted yet.

Kampol never noticed how big my family was until they were all seated down to eat. He was happy to have everyone be here and help us celebrate the new house. Of course I avoided my other mom Laci, she kept asking me if I was going to get married or not.

When everyone left I still had some sunlight left and decided to water the plants. I needed to make sure that this venture was successful.

Kampols job as test subject was short lived. He lasted a week before the test was done and he was let go. So its back to gardening for both of us.

After much searching I got a job as a Fish chummer. I love my job but was sadden to find out that this is as high as I could go without a college degree. I know I want to be more in this career so I approached Kampol and asked him how he felt if I finished my degree at home. He said it would be a great idea because he was planning on going for his master's degree too. This would mean that we would be in more debt but for now it was better than just working to work.

Darius and Dominica Dominguez

Dominica, (18) who is majoring in Economics and her twin brother Darius (18) who is majoring in Biology. They both decided to attend Academi Letour.
Narrated by: Dominica

Freshman Year:

Darius and I began to study everyday to try to get this college thing right. Darius was the one more keen on studying and getting to know the people on campus.

I was in the library and got approached by this guy. I think his name was Elliot or was that his last name? Not sure but after a while it was clear he wanted to find out if I was available. As soon as I mentioned my boyfriend the conversation was over.

Darius met a guy, his name is Alexander Davis and apparently they have hit it off. I am glad that my brother met someone and that this guy seems nice.

Prof. Calderon came over to discuss Darius' Grades. He honestly hurt Darius' feelings when he told him that either Darius' gets it together or he will not make it past Freshman year.

Darius was concerned and voiced his fears to Alexander who told him to just take it easy and get to studying. In the end we both finished the semester, Darius got a C with a scholarship of $400. I got an A with a scholarship of $1,200.
Sophmore Year:

Alexander and my brother are officially a couple. I hate to admit that i'm a little jealous that my brother has his boyfriend here while mine is so far away. In the end I am just glad that Darius is happy.

Being that I got an A last year I am taking it a little easier. At least I can breathe a little easier this time. I kind of like this video game more than my biology this year.

Where did the time go? All of a sudden Darius reminded me that finals were coming up. I hate to admit that I have been slacking a little this year. It's been hard with all of the social activies and let alone the offer to study one Master's class. I may want to go for my Master's so why not take advantage.

I guess Darius was too in love and I too into my social campus life. We both were placed on Academic probation with less than two weeks to make our classes up. Darius looked just as disappointed as I am.

Darius told me that Alexander was disappointed and promised to help him study.

Finally Kompol had saved enough to come and see me. I was so excited that I just jumped into his arms. I still could not believe that he was here in the flesh. We talked about so many things including making a life for ourselves.

Our visit was cut short since one of my classmates told me that there was a man looking for my brother or me outside. It turned out to be my uncle Austin Miguel. I was shocked to see him on campus. He had actually come to talk to my brother and myself.

We settled into the living room of our dorm. I was a little worried that one of our parents were sick or worse. It turns out that our uncle was coming to tell us that we were officially being pulled out of college. Both of our jaws dropped. I questioned why but he told us that our moms saw no need for having us here if the school was ready to drop us. What else could we do? We were officially being requested to leave school. Our uncle at least told us we still had the option of going to school at home. Needless to say that I was devastated.

Kampol made his entrance at that time and shocked all of us by saying that if I was leaving school then I could move in with him. I agreed but my uncle said that the discussion would have to be with my parents and not him. He was only to come and tell us that college dorm life was over for us.

Darius accepted his fate a little better than I did. I must admit that I was sad when I realized that he and Alexander would have to live apart. I guess the are going to keep their relationship and see where they are going to move to once Alex graduates. So for now either we move in with Kampol or rent an apartment ourselves or Darius moves back in with our parents. Hopefully our return to Viramontes willl not be that bad.