Selena Quintanilla

One day Selena's father was looking thru their payments and financial bills and found out that Yolanda Saldivar was stealing lots of money from them. Selena thought her father was lying because she trusted Yolanda was her friend and the manager of all Selena's fan clubs and even her boutique. Selena finally looked more into what her father said and found out that Yolanda actually was stealing money from them and what they didn't know was that all the people that Yolanda had worked for she had stolen lots of money from them to but nothing was on her record because they never found out. Yolanda was not expecting to get caught by Selena's family which made Salena even more angry than before. As Selena found out about this she decided to fire Yolanda immediately and she was not permitted to enter or even have anything to do with Selena's business. That same day Selena was talking to one of her employees talking about how Yolanda was stealing money from her and her family and how she was shocked that anybody could do such a thing especially when she had trusted her and let her into her home. When the day was over Selena's employee was scared for Selena and followed her home that night to make sure nothing bad would happen to her. The next day Selena called Yolanda telling her that she needs to give her financial papers back and her samples for the boutique that she had never gave back Yolanda agreed and told Salena to meet her at a motel she was staying at. Selena called her friend and asked him to drive her there. Once Selena got there she went and got to her room they were having a normal conversation but then they started arguing and fighting they were so loud to the point where motel employees and residents were complaining about all the noise was going on in that room. Selena was started to get frustrated with Yolanda and grabbed her bag and dumped it all on the bed that was when Selena saw the gun and tried to flee. Yolanda quickly picked up the gun and shot Salena once on the lower right of her shoulder and punctured a major artery which caused Selena to have major blood lost. A janitor working that night said that he heard a gunshot and a women screaming for help. When Selena got shot she ran towards the lobby even though Yolanda was still chasing after her. Motel staff said that even though Yolanda had performed those actions she went back to her room like nothing happened. Selena fell to the floor and that's when people started to call 911 and telling them to bring a ambulance. The ambulance was there in less than two minutes. As they were putting Selena in the ambulance a motel employee saw that Yolanda got in her truck and was trying to flee the scene once Yolanda realized that she was surrounded by cop cars she was threatening to kill herself with the gun she originally shot Selena with. Police eventually got her to calm down and to step out of the vehicle she was later arrested and sentenced to life in jail with a chance of 30 year parole. Selena later died at the hospital doctors tried everything but she didn't make it Selena died on March 31, 1995.

This is a story about me, Selena Quintanilla, and how I started to sing Latin music. To start, no, I'm not a native Spanish speaker and my story started in my father’s restaurant.

Back then, before the age of six, no one in my family never knew about my singing talent. That was until one day, while my dad was giving my brother guitar lessons, I decided to start singing. My father, Abraham Quintanilla, thought I was really good. That was also around the time my dad opened his restaurant which then gave him the idea that I should perform so, he made a band for me with me. As the lead singer. We called ourselves Selena y Los Dinos which in English means Selena and the Guys, we all had our special roles. I was the main singer, Chris Pérez lead and rhythm guitar and who also I would marry in the future. Ricky Vela and Joe Ojeda as keyboards, A.B. Quintanilla was our bass, and backing vocals, Suzette Quintanilla drums, percussion, backing vocals, and Jesse "O'Jay" Martinez drums, and percussion.

It was so fun seeing people enjoying the Latin music my father wrote for us to sing and play on instruments. We performed every weekend and even had the chance to perform at weddings and parties. I remember I would have to learn to sing all the lyrics in Spanish, syllable by syllable till I got it right. Eventually, I just learned how to speak Spanish but it was still kind of frustrating.

Although I loved to sing at my father’s restaurant, I felt that it was keeping me from living a normal childhood. Due to the fact that I had to perform every weekend, I never got to hang out with my friends from my school, and not only did I have to perform every weekend I also had to practice almost every day after school. Because like I said, I had to learn all of the songs I sang in Spanish, and not only that I had to get the right rhythm so I could sync with the rest of the band

To be honest, I think I had at least three breakdowns every week but obviously, I pushed through as my father always told me, “hija solo imagina las grandes Cosas Que Puedes lograr en el futur.” which in English basically means daughter just imagine all the great things you can accomplish if you don't give up.” but he didn’t start saying this to me till I could speak Spanish fluently.

Looking back at this specific event in my life of how I became the world-famous Selena American Latin singer who inspired people to follow their dreams and won’t give up even if times are tough, I think I was very strong-minded and stubborn make me think this way as a kid and even now.

I walked into the kitchen to my family talking about Yolanda. My soon to be fired manager. She stole money from me and my family so we were discussing what we should do. What my family doesn't know is that I have already made up my mind.

“What should we do?” my brother, A.B asked.

“All of us should go, right?” my sister, Suzette questioned looking around the kitchen table at her family's faces.

“I could go.” Chris volunteered.

“No, I should be the one to go.” I decided.

“You sure?” my husband, Chris, asked.

“Yeah, and plus, I wanted to ask why she betrayed me.” I said determinedly.

I drove to Yolanda’s hotel.

I knocked on Saldivar's door “Saldivar? Are you in there?”

“Yes, you can open the door. It’s open.” She chimed.

I opened the red peeling off wallpaper door and looked around my surroundings, cigarettes thrown on the desk, undergarments on the floor, I finally looked up at Yolanda . “I’m sorry to say this but you’re fired.”

“What are you talking about? You can’t fire me.” She yelled.

“You're complaining about getting fired? That's better than my family going to the police to report you!” I yelled, slamming my hand on one of the desks in the shabby hotel room.

“Report me for what?”

“You stole money from me. I gifted you so many things. I gifted you with friendship and what do you do? You steal from me and my family. You betrayed my trust.” I yelled angrily with tears running down my face. I can’t believe she’s fighting with me on this.

“No.”

“What do you mean no?” I said looking at her with a straight face.

“You won't fire me,” Saldivar said quietly with a sad smile.

“And what's stopping me from doing so?” I asked, backing away a little.

“If I can't be with you, no one can!” Saldivar screamed, opening the drawer next to her and pulling a gun and pointing a gun at me.

“What are you doing Saldivar,” I stuttered , panicked “Put the gun down, okay.”

“No,” Saldivar whispered, pointing the gun at me. I heard a loud noise. A gun was fired. It took me a while to realize that I was the one who got shot.

I gasped. I lifted my hand to my back, bringing my hand to my face seeing a blood-stained hand.

“What did I do?” Saldivar whispered, shocked, stepping back.

I stumbled out of the hotel room, trying to run to the hotel lobby. All of my senses on high alert. I could feel every single step I was taking on the hard grey gravel pavement. All I was thinking about was getting to the lobby. My body was aching and hurting so bad but I could feel my body losing strength and just wanted to escape the agony and pain I was facing. I just wanted to go to sleep. I’ve never felt this kind of pain before. I fell hard on the concrete floor. I guess I couldn’t make it. I don’t want to leave my family, I don’t want to leave A.B or leave my sister. I wanted to help my dad and mom more. I could feel my body falling asleep. I know I should try to get up but I can’t. I feel someone picking me up. People yelling for help. Yes, yes please help me. All I could hear was just loud sirens in the distance.

~Saldivar's POV~

I lifted up my hand that was holding a gun. I was holding a gun. I just shot a person. I couldn’t think. Couldn't think about what I just did. I could hear Police sirens in the background. I stumbled out of the room hitting the door on my way out looking in the parking lot and ran into a random truck. I pointed the gun at my head. Locking the door so no one could come in. I could see the police starting surrounding my car. All I could think about was how I could have shot Selena.

~Selena POV~

I woke up again but maybe I wouldn’t call this waking up more like I could hear voices. All I could see were lots of lights flashing in my eyes. I heard someone say I got shot but I couldn’t remember anything. Maybe I did, that explains my body aching all over. I could smell the sweat and body odor that was in the room. Where am I? Why does my body hurt so much? And why do I feel so sleepy? Maybe I should sleep. And with that one thought my mind went dark again and I got engrossed in the dark and this time I didn’t know if I was going to wake up.