Abstract
This story follows Valentina Torres, a 15-year-old girl living in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, who grapples with self-worth and the pressures of being underestimated. Val has always felt small in a world that seems to favor the louder, more visible individuals. Raised by hard-working parents, Val learns the value of determination and education. Despite the challenges of balancing school, work, and family responsibilities, Val maintains a deep sense of justice that often gets her into conflict with others, especially with Mia Perez, a popular but cruel classmate. After enduring a series of insults from Mia, Val finally confronts her in a public moment of self-empowerment, demonstrating that true success lies not in external validation but in the impact one makes on others. Through this confrontation, Val realizes that her worth is defined by her values and the love of her family, not by the opinions of others.
Bio
Hello,
My name is Alonso Medina and I am a student at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University. I am 29 years old, with a wife, two daughters, and one on the way! I love to play and watch soccer on the weekends and in my free time. I am usually not much of a writer but my creative writing class has opened my eyes about expressing yourself through literature. I am proud of myself for being able to learn a new technique and share my experiences through writing. Please enjoy the readings as I did while I was editing.
Thank you!
Recommended Citation
Medina, Alonso
(2025)
"Between Shadows and Dreams,"
Night Flight: Online Literary Journal: Vol. 6
, Article 21.
Available at:
https://commons.erau.edu/night-flight/vol6/iss1/21