Refugees in America - Free Essay Example

Sample details Pages: 5 Words: 1516 Downloads: 4 Date added: 2019/07/01 Category Society Essay Level High school Tags: Refugees Essay Did you like this example? There are 25.4 million people who were forced to flee to other countries as refugees (Huber and Reid). Many refugees struggle to find a safe place to live after they are exiled from their country. Not all places welcome refugees; therefore, they are at risk. Don’t waste time! Our writers will create an original "Refugees in America" essay for you Create order In the debate over the refugee crisis, one controversial issue has been that refugees should be allowed to seek refuge in America. On the other hand, many conservatives contend that they should not be permitted to come to America at all. Whereas the others are extreme, some even maintain the idea to help refugees, but by setting up camps in their countries, instead of moving them to new places. Everyone in America is trying to protect someone. Whether it is conservatives, liberals, politically moderates, or lawmakers, they all agree that they need to provide safety for others. However, they have different beliefs on who has the right to be protected by the United States government. There are several positions on whether or not refugees should be able to seek refuge in America. The refugee crisis has recently been a major topic in the U.S. immigration court of law. On September 17, 2018, Trump announced that they would only be allowing 25,000 refugees into America, when in the previous year it was 45,000 (Davis). With this being such a broad topic, many different groups have their opinions. Some of the groups are the refugees, the federal government, and the political parties such as conservatives, liberals, and moderates. Many believe that allowing refugees into America will cause problems for the citizens there. While the others who are the complete opposite believe that refugees will benefit the economy and help the unfortunate refugees. The ones in the middle find a way to compromise. They want to provide aid to the refugees, just not in America in their own countries. Each position is doing what they think is just, however, in order to figure that out, one must be mindful of all solutions, while being unbiased. Most liberals support the idea that refugees should be allowed into America because it is morally right. With refugees coming to America, they provide more job opportunities, which benefits the economy. Statistics show that most refugees pursue the career of an entrepreneur. By starting their own companies, they can hire more American citizens. In 2015, 180,000 refugees were entrepreneurs (From Struggle to Resilience). These new companies open up a great number of jobs. The main reason that many people support this idea is because the refugees are under constant surveillance, therefore, there is low security risk. With the refugees, there is no need to fear them, since the government has taken action to make sure the refugees do not harm the citizens of America. They have set up specific laws that allow them to keep a careful eye on the refugees (Park and Buchanan). The refugees must go through a very difficult vetting process that allows them to be thoroughly searched. In addition, the refugees pay taxes, which evens out what it cost in order for them to get to America and stay there. Multiple charts show that after eight years of paying taxes, refugees end up matching the amount that it cost to get them into the country and their living expenses. The total cost for them to stay in America is $107,000 and they end up paying $129,000 in taxes, which leaves the government $22,000 profit (Bondarenko). Not only does the government practically loses nothing, they also gain extra money that can go towards benefiting refugees or American citizens. A majority of extremist conservatives believe that the United States should not allow refugees to receive care in their country. The major problem that some people have with refugees is that when they come into the country, crime and violence are increased. In 2015 through 2016, violent crime rose by about ten percent and more than 90% of the crimes were committed by young male refugees (Alkousaa). Violence is brought out by either the citizens lashing out at the refugees or vice versa. If two types of people do not want to be in the same area, then thing can end up going bad. Secondly, bringing refugees over to America is very expensive. Statistics show that it costs nearly $15,000 to bring in the refugees and give them background checks. It costs and extra $92,000 to provide them with insurance and what they need to survive (Bondarenko). Lastly, the government usually requires the refugees to maintain a job in order to stay in the country (Rush). In order to do that, many of them t ake available jobs that were originally set up for American citizens. Most conservatives have a problem with this. The people in between the two extreme parties claim that the best option is to help the refugees, but by setting up camps in their countries. Most refugees want to stay in their countries so that they are close to home, because they usually end up going back when their country is safe again. About two out of three refugees end up going back to their home countries when the violence is over (Huber, Reid, and Koenig). Another important factor is that it would cost less if Americans were to set up camps rather than paying for transportation to the U.S. research shows that it costs $3,000 per refugee to set up a camp in Jordan, when in America it would cost over $30,000 per refugee (Williams). This would cost almost ten times less than it would if helping the refugees in America. Ten times a number is a big difference, so it would save the United States a large amount of money. The last reason is that the majority of refugees feel more comfortable staying in their own country. There are multiple accounts of refugees who do not know how to speak English and would rather be taken care of in what they are familiar with. Being in a place where they feel safe allows them to cope with having to be exiled (Shearlaw). They are forced to leave their countries, which makes most refugees fearful. Research shows that most refugees, if given the choice, would like to stay in their countries, than rather go far away (Swanson). To best help them, people should want to make the refugees as content as possible. While there are many valid positions on where refugees should find protection, the most just solution is to provide camps in the countries of the refugees because it seems to make all people happy. The conservatives are happy because they do not have any foreign refugees coming into their country, the liberals get to contribute to sheltering them, and the refugees get to stay in their comfortable country. Since no one can prove whether refugees benefit or hurt the economy, the best thing to do is to find the in between option. This solution finds the common ground between most everyone related to this topic. Why fight over something that can easily be fixed by choosing the middle position? It is most often the correct one too. In order to be able to choose which side is best, people need to know what each position stands for. They need background information and will need to decide which option is more just for them, but only after, they hear what each side has to say. Works Cited Alkousaa, Riham. Violent Crime Rises in Germany and Is Attributed to Refugees. Reuters, Thomson Reuters, 3 Jan. 2018, www.reuters.com/article/us-europe-migrants-germany-crime/violent-crime-rises-in-germany-and-is-attributed-to-refugees-idUSKBN1ES16J. Bondarenko, Veronika. Study Finds Refugees Actually Pay the US Government Thousands More than They Get from It. Business Insider, Business Insider, 13 June 2017, www.businessinsider.com/how-much-do-refugees-cost-us-taxpayers-2017-6. Davis, Julie Hirschfeld. White House Weighs Another Reduction in Refugees Admitted to U.S. The New York Times, The New York Times, 1 Aug. 2018, www.nytimes.com/2018/08/01/us/politics/trump-refugees-reduction.html. Fleming, Melissa. 3 Real Stories from Refugees. World Economic Forum, 17 Dec. 2015, www.weforum.org/agenda/2015/12/3-real-stories-from-refugees/. From Struggle to Resilience: The Economic Impact of Refugees in America. New American Economy, research.newamericaneconomy.org/report/from-struggle-to-resilience-the-economic-impact-of-refugees-in-america/. Huber, Chris, and Kathryn Reid. Forced to Flee: Top Countries Refugees Are Coming From. World Vision, World Vision Inc., 26 June 2018, www.worldvision.org/refugees-news-stories/forced-to-flee-top-countries-refugees-coming-from. Huber, Chris, et al. Syrian Refugee Crisis: Facts, FAQs, and How to Help. World Vision, 10 Sept. 2018, www.worldvision.org/refugees-news-stories/syrian-refugee-crisis-facts. Park, Haeyoun, and Larry Buchanan. Refugees Entering the U.S. Already Face a Rigorous Vetting Process. The New York Times, The New York Times, 29 Jan. 2017, www.nytimes.com/interactive/2017/01/29/us/refugee-vetting-process.html. Rush, Nayla. Fact-Checking a Fact Sheet On Refugee Resettlement. Center For Immigration Studies, Nov. 2015, cis.org/sites/default/files/rush-refugees-mpi.pdf. Shearlaw, Maeve. Are Refugee Camps the Best Solution for People Fleeing a Crisis? | Maeve Shearlaw. The Guardian, Guardian News and Media, 25 July 2013, www.theguardian.com/global-development/2013/jul/25/refugee-camps-solution-people-fleeing-crisis. Swanson, Ana. The Big Myth about Refugees. The Washington Post, WP Company, 10 Sept. 2015, www.washingtonpost.com/news/wonk/wp/2015/09/10/the-big-myth-about-refugees/. Williams, Rob. This Is the One Thing Britain Got Right about the Refugee Crisis. The Independent, Independent Digital News and Media, 14 Mar. 2016, www.independent.co.uk/voices/syrian-refugees-will-cost-ten-times-more-to-care-for-in-europe-than-in-neighboring-countries-a6928676.html.

Essay about Philosophy and Therapeutic Recreation

As I make my way on this journey that is my life, I realize that I have always believed in the fundamental worth of all humanity and my responsibility as a fellow human being to respect this premise and also to support individuals, as much as I am able, to help unearth it should this basic truth become hidden to them. This is a guiding principle for me and I believe that many of the constructs of the field of Therapeutic Recreation (TR) are congruent with this philosophy. Making the decision to obtain a Therapeutic Recreation Specialization (TRS) degree offered a theoretical rationale in which to further explore the concept of leisure, define my professional philosophy and an opportunity to reflect critically on the field which I have†¦show more content†¦When choosing to work with adults living with severe dementia, many people often ask me how or why I do it. It’s simple. Not only do I believe that all people have value, I likewise believe that all people can contribute to society. The client who can no longer articulate their thoughts or needs or desires is teaching me to listen and find alternative means of communication. In essence, they are teaching me to be a better communicator. I think this is congruent with Sayers concept of meaningful contribution. There are still so many things about the brain that we do not understand that I would find it arrogant of me to assume that the person with dementia does not feel they are still contributing to society in some way. This improved communication skill, from my perspective, is an essential and necessary benchmark for the establishment of an effective client/practitioner relationship. O’Keefe (2008) urges us to listen to the narrative, there’s a story to be heard, if only we adjust our philosophical positioning. Eudaimonia, Leisure Ability Model, A Strength Paradigm Aristotle posits Eudaimonia, human flourishing and happiness, as the ‘chief good’ of humanity achieved through ‘reflective activity’ over a lifetime (Aristotle, The Nicomachean Ethics, 2002). From my perspective, the reflective activity to which he alludes is the pursuit of leisure.Show MoreRelatedPhilosophy of Therapeutic Recreation3064 Words   |  13 Pagesp. 4). With this gradual rise in age, the idea of therapeutic recreation for the aging population has taken on a significant role. Therapeutic recreation uses recreation and leisure activities to meet the needs of people in order to improve their quality of life. These needs include social, physical, cognitive, emotional, and spiritual. The experience of engaging in recreation is perceived to have therapeutic benefits. Engaging in recreation can be characterized by feelings of mastery, achievementRead MoreRecreation Evaluation1387 Words   |  6 PagesThe therapeutic recreation process is a syst ematic method of planning and providing services for individuals with disabilities. The process is based on a systems theory approach. The system is designed for a guide for a well-defined, goal-oriented purpose to the activity or program being provided. It involves four phases: assessment, planning, implementation and evaluation. Use of the therapeutic recreation process is not dependent on location, but on systematic and consistent use of assessing, planningRead MoreWhy Are Personal Experiences Influence On A Person s Thoughts And How Does It Impact His Future? Essay1742 Words   |  7 Pagesout what the reasons behind to steer towards a person s thoughts. As a therapeutic recreation practitioner, it is important to develop a professional philosophy statement which would reflect my roles and especially the relationship with clients. Under those circumstances, having a positive mind would be one of the emphases that inseparable in order to corporate the values into daily activitie s. To develop a personal philosophy statement, it would base on my personal background and values, and professionalRead MoreThe Academic Journey Of The Field Of Recreation And Leisure876 Words   |  4 Pagesthis author. It was for my own personal and professional growth that I chose to pursue the degree as a TRS. The program exposed me to many of the leaders in the field of Recreation and Leisure, especially as it applied to TR, and, furthermore, helped me to construe, animadvert and reevaluate my own professional philosophy. The requirements of the specialization, itself however, could, I believe, benefit from an overhaul insofar as it relates to the field as it stands as a component of Quebec’sRead MoreDog Therapy Essay1305 Words   |  6 PagesFlorence Nightingale, a founder of nursing philosophy, noted in her 1859 nursing notes that a small pet was an excellent companion for the sick, especially patients with chronic cases. Pet therapy is a therapeutic aid that supports medical cures and enhances the relational and emotional status of the sufferer. A Hypothesis propounded on by doctors S.R. Kellert and E.O. Wilson was â€Å"No one who looks at the evidence can doubt that animals in hand improve the quality of modern human life†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (sic). AnRead MoreGrand Theory Written Assignment1263 Words   |  6 Pagesmaintain desirable postures, sleep and rest, select suitable clothes, maintain homeostasis, personal hygiene, protect the integument, avoid environmental dangers and injury to othe rs, communicate with others, worship according to faith, participate in recreation, learn and discover, and work in such a way there is a sense of accomplishment (www.currentnursing.com). Henderson defined nursing as assisting with these activities to help the individual achieve independence. A person’s ability to successfullyRead MoreSummary : Eastern Washington University3541 Words   |  15 PagesEastern Washington University [EWU] offers Bachelor’s degrees in Recreation Management, Therapeutic Recreation, and Outdoor Recreation. Graduates from these programs are required to complete an internship with a company in their field; typically Fairchild Air Force Base’s Outdoor Adventure Programming [OAP] takes on one [or more] interns from EWU. Ryan Murphy, the Fairchild OAP’s former Assistant of Operations, stated â€Å"Interns do not come to us with the skills needed to lead others; we take themRead MoreTheoretical Foundations of Nursing4269 Words   |  18 PagesINTERPERSONAL RELATIONS THEORY â€Å"The kind of person that the nurse becomes makes a substantial difference in what each patient will learn as he or she receives nursing care.† Hildegard Peplau (1952) She defined Nursing as â€Å"an interpersonal process of therapeutic interactions between an individual who is sick or in need of health services and a nurse especially educated to recognize, respond to the need for help.† Dr. Peplau emphasized the nurse-client relationship as the foundation of nursing practiceRead MoreThe Effectiveness of Community-Based Corrections Program2965 Words   |  12 Pagespeople are so naturally evil that they must be cut off from the rest of society and closely monitored. In theory, however, they should be based on some type of philosophy or basis for punishment - such as deterrence, retribution, reintegration, incapacitation, or rehabilitation. Throughout most of the twentieth century, the dominant philosophies have been incapacitation, deterrence, and retribution (this combination being called the custodial model) except for a brief period from 1954 to 1974 when rehabilitationRead MoreRelationship Between Meterparadigm Theory of Nursing and Anas Definition of Nursing5001 Words   |  21 PagesNursing * Developed the  Clinical Nursing – A Helping Art Model. * She advocated that the nurse’s individual philosophy or central purpose lends credence to nursing care. * She believed that nurses meet the individual’s need for help through the identification of the needs, administration of help, and validation that actions were helpful. Components of clinical practice: Philosophy, purpose, practice and an art. Metaparadigm Person * Any individual who is receiving help from a member of

Frostbite Chapter 2 Free Essays

string(78) " But it was hardly like those who had been killed here were the last of them\." TWO DIMITRI MADE ONE PHONE CALL, and a veritable SWAT team showed up. It took a couple of hours, though, and every minute spent waiting felt like a year. I finally couldn’t take it anymore and returned to the car. We will write a custom essay sample on Frostbite Chapter 2 or any similar topic only for you Order Now Dimitri examined the house further and then came to sit with me. Neither of us said a word while we waited. A slide show of the grisly sights inside the house kept playing in my mind. I felt scared and alone and wished he would hold me or comfort me in some way. Immediately, I scolded myself for wanting that. I reminded myself for the thousandth time that he was my instructor and had no business holding me, no matter what the situation was. Besides, I wanted to be strong. I didn’t need to go running to some guy every time things got tough. When the first group of guardians showed up, Dimitri opened the car door and glanced over at me. â€Å"You should see how this is done.† I didn’t want to see any more of that house, honestly, but I followed anyway. These guardians were strangers to me, but Dimitri knew them. He always seemed to know everybody. This group was surprised to find a novice on the scene, but none of them protested my presence. I walked behind them as they examined the house. None of them touched anything, but they knelt by the bodies and studied the bloodstains and broken windows. Apparently, the Strigoi had entered the house through more than just the front door and back patio. The guardians spoke in brusque tones, displaying none of the disgust and fear I felt. They were like machines. One of them, the only woman in the group, crouched beside Arthur Schoenberg. I was intrigued since female guardians were so rare. I’d heard Dimitri call her Tamara, and she looked about twenty-five. Her black hair just barely touched her shoulders, which was common for guardian women. Sadness flickered in her gray eyes as she studied the dead guardian’s face. â€Å"Oh, Arthur,† she sighed. Like Dimitri, she managed to convey a hundred things in just a couple words. â€Å"Never thought I’d see this day. He was my mentor.† With another sigh, Tamara rose. Her face had become all businesslike once more, as though the guy who’d trained her wasn’t lying there in front of her. I couldn’t believe it. He was her mentor. How could she keep that kind of control? For half a heartbeat, I imagined seeing Dimitri dead on the floor instead. No. No way could I have stayed calm in her place. I would have gone on a rampage. I would have screamed and kicked things. I would have hit anyone who tried to tell me things would be okay. Fortunately, I didn’t believe anyone could actually take down Dimitri. I’d seen him kill a Strigoi without breaking a sweat. He was invincible. A badass. A god. Of course, Arthur Schoenberg had been too. â€Å"How could they do that?† I blurted out. Six sets of eyes turned to me. I expected a chastising look from Dimitri for my outburst, but he merely appeared curious. â€Å"How could they kill him?† Tamara gave a small shrug, her face still composed. â€Å"The same way they kill everyone else. He’s mortal, just like the rest of us.† â€Å"Yeah, but he’s †¦ you know, Arthur Schoenberg.† â€Å"You tell us, Rose,† said Dimitri. â€Å"You’ve seen the house. Tell us how they did it.† As they all watched me, I suddenly realized I might be undergoing a test after all today. I thought about what I’d observed and heard. I swallowed, trying to figure out how the impossible could be possible. â€Å"There were four points of entry, which means at least four Strigoi. There were seven Moroi†¦Ã¢â‚¬  The family who lived here had been entertaining some other people, making the massacre that much larger. Three of the victims had been children. â€Å"†¦ and three guardians. Too many kills. Four Strigoi couldn’t have taken down that many. Six probably could if they went for the guardians first and caught them by surprise. The family would have been too panicked to fight back.† â€Å"And how did they catch the guardians by surprise?† Dimitri prompted. I hesitated. Guardians, as a general rule, didn’t get caught by surprise. â€Å"Because the wards were broken. In a household without wards, there’d probably be a guardian walking the yard at night. But they wouldn’t have done that here.† I waited for the next obvious question about how the wards had been broken. But Dimitri didn’t ask it. There was no need. We all knew. We’d all seen the stake. Again, a chill ran down my spine. Humans working with Strigoia large group of Strigoi. Dimitri simply nodded as a sign of approval, and the group continued their survey. When we reached a bathroom, I started to avert my gaze. I’d already seen this room with Dimitri earlier and had no wish to repeat the experience. There was a dead man in there, and his dried blood stood out in stark contrast against the white tile. Also, since this room was more interior, it wasn’t as cold as the area by the open patio. No preservation. The body didn’t smell bad yet, exactly, but it didn’t smell right, either. But as I started to turn away, I caught a glimpse of something dark redmore brown, reallyon the mirror. I hadn’t noticed it before because the rest of the scene had held all of my attention. There was writing on the mirror, done in blood. Poor, poor Badicas. So few left. One royal family nearly gone. Others to follow. Tamara snorted in disgust and turned away from the mirror, studying other details of the bathroom. As we walked out, though, those words repeated in my head. One royal family nearly gone. Others to follow. The Badicas were one of the smaller royal clans, it was true. But it was hardly like those who had been killed here were the last of them. You read "Frostbite Chapter 2" in category "Essay examples" There were probably almost two hundred Badicas left. That wasn’t as many as a family like, say, the Ivashkovs. That particular royal family was huge and widespread. There were, however, a lot more Badicas than there were some other royals. Like the Dragomirs. Lissa was the only one left. If the Strigoi wanted to snuff out royal lines, there was no better chance than to go after her. Moroi blood empowered Strigoi, so I understood their desire for that. I supposed specifically targeting royals was simply part of their cruel and sadistic nature. It was ironic that Strigoi would want to tear apart Moroi society, since many of them had once been a part of it. The mirror and its warning consumed me for the rest of our stay at the house, and I found my fear and shock transforming into anger. How could they do this? How could any creature be so twisted and evil that they’d do this to a familythat they’d want to wipe out an entire bloodline? How could any creature do this when they’d once been like me and Lissa? And thinking of Lissathinking of Strigoi wanting to wipe out her family toostirred up a dark rage within me. The intensity of that emotion nearly knocked me over. It was something black and miasmic, swelling and roiling. A storm cloud ready to burst. I suddenly wanted to tear up every Strigoi I could get my hands on. When I finally got into the car to ride back to St. Vladimir’s with Dimitri, I slammed the door so hard that it was a wonder it didn’t fall off. He glanced at me in surprise. â€Å"What’s wrong?† â€Å"Are you serious?† I exclaimed, incredulous. â€Å"How can you ask that? You were there. You saw that.† â€Å"I did,† he agreed. â€Å"But I’m not taking it out on the car.† I fastened my seat belt and glowered. â€Å"I hate them. I hate them all! I wish I’d been there. I would have ripped their throats out!† I was nearly shouting. Dimitri stared at me, face calm, but he was clearly astonished at my outburst. â€Å"You really think that’s true?† he asked me. â€Å"You think you could have done better than Art Schoenberg after seeing what the Strigoi did in there? After seeing what Natalie did to you?† I faltered. I’d tangled briefly with Lissa’s cousin, Natalie, when she became a Strigoi, just before Dimitri had shown up to save the day. Even as a new Strigoiweak and uncoordinatedshe’d literally thrown me around the room. I closed my eyes and took a deep breath. Suddenly, I felt stupid. I’d seen what Strigoi could do. Me running in impetuously and trying to save the day would have only resulted in a quick death. I was developing into a tough guardian, but I still had a lot to learnand one seventeen-year-old girl couldn’t have stood against six Strigoi. I opened my eyes. â€Å"I’m sorry,† I said, gaining control of myself. The rage that had exploded inside me diffused. I didn’t know where it had come from. I had a short temper and often acted impulsively, but this had been intense and ugly even for me. Weird. â€Å"It’s okay,† said Dimitri. He reached over and placed his hand on mine for a few moments. Then he removed it and started the car. â€Å"It’s been a long day. For all of us.† When we got back to St. Vladimir’s Academy around midnight, everyone knew about the massacre. The vampiric school day had just ended, and I hadn’t slept in more than twenty-four hours. I was bleary-eyed and sluggish, and Dimitri ordered me to immediately go back to my dorm room and get some sleep. He, of course, looked alert and ready to take on anything. Sometimes I really wasn’t sure if he slept at all. He headed off to consult with other guardians about the attack, and I promised him I’d go straight to bed. Instead, I turned toward the library once he was out of sight. I needed to see Lissa, and the bond told me that was where she was. It was pitch-black as I walked along the stone walkway that crossed the quad from my dorm to the secondary school’s main building. Snow completely covered the grass, but the sidewalk had been meticulously cleared of all ice and snow. It reminded me of the poor Badicas’ neglected home. The commons building was large and gothic-looking, more suited to a medieval movie set than a school. Inside, that air of mystery and ancient history continued to permeate the building: elaborate stone walls and antique paintings warring with computers and fluorescent lights. Modern technology had a foothold here, but it would never dominate. Slipping through the library’s electronic gate, I immediately headed for one of the back corners where geography and travel books were kept. Sure enough, I found Lissa sitting there on the floor, leaning against a bookcase. â€Å"Hey,† she said, looking up from an open book propped up on one knee. She brushed a few strands of pale hair out of her face. Her boyfriend, Christian, lay on the floor near her, his head propped up on her other knee. He greeted me by way of a nod. Considering the antagonism that sometimes flared up between us, that was almost on par with him giving me a bear hug. Despite her small smile, I could feel the tension and fear in her; it sang through the bond. â€Å"You heard,† I said, sitting down cross-legged. Her smile slipped, and the feelings of fear and unease within her intensified. I liked that our psychic connection let me protect her better, but I didn’t really need my own troubled feelings amplified. â€Å"It’s awful,† she said with a shudder. Christian shifted and linked his fingers through hers. He squeezed her hand. She squeezed back. Those two were so in love and sugary sweet with each other that I felt like brushing my teeth after being around them. They were subdued just now, however, no doubt thanks to the massacre news. â€Å"They’re saying†¦they’re saying there were six or seven Strigoi. And that humans helped them break the wards.† I leaned my head back against a shelf. News really did travel fast. Suddenly, I felt dizzy. â€Å"It’s true.† â€Å"Really?† asked Christian. â€Å"I figured that was just a bunch of hyped-up paranoia.† â€Å"No †¦Ã¢â‚¬  I realized then that nobody knew where I’d been today. â€Å"I†¦ I was there.† Lissa’s eyes widened, shock coursing into me from her. Even Christianthe poster child for â€Å"smartass†looked grim. If not for the horribleness of it all, I would have taken satisfaction in catching him off guard. â€Å"You’re joking,† he said, voice uncertain. â€Å"I thought you were taking your Qualifier†¦Ã¢â‚¬  Lissa’s words trailed off. â€Å"I was supposed to,† I said. â€Å"It was just a wrong-place-and-wrong-time kind of thing. The guardian who was going to give me the test lived there. Dimitri and I walked in, and†¦Ã¢â‚¬  I couldn’t finish. Images of the blood and death that had filled the Badica house flashed through my mind again. Concern crossed both Lissa’s face and the bond. â€Å"Rose, are you okay?† she asked softly. Lissa was my best friend, but I didn’t want her to know how scared and upset the whole thing had made me. I wanted to be fierce. â€Å"Fine,† I said, teeth clenched. â€Å"What was it like?† asked Christian. Curiosity filled his voice, but there was guilt there toolike he knew it was wrong to want to know about such a horrible thing. He couldn’t stop himself from asking, though. Lack of impulse control was one thing we had in common. â€Å"It was †¦Ã¢â‚¬  I shook my head. â€Å"I don’t want to talk about it.† Christian started to protest, and then Lissa ran a hand through his sleek black hair. The gentle admonishment silenced him. A moment of awkwardness hung between us all. Reading Lissa’s mind, I felt her desperately grope for a new topic. â€Å"They say this is going to mess up all of the holiday visits,† she told me after several more moments. â€Å"Christian’s aunt is going to visit, but most people don’t want to travel, and they want their kids to stay here where it’s safe. They’re terrified this group of Strigoi is on the move.† I hadn’t thought about the ramifications of an attack like this. We were only a week or so away from Christmas. Usually, there was a huge wave of travel in the Moroi world this time of year. Students went home to visit their parents; parents came to stay on campus and visit their children. â€Å"This is going to keep a lot of families separated,† I murmured. â€Å"And mess up a lot of royal get-togethers,† said Christian. His brief seriousness had vanished; his snide air was back. â€Å"You know how they are this time of yearalways competing with each other to throw the biggest parties. They won’t know what to do with themselves.† I could believe it. My life was about fighting, but the Moroi certainly had their share of internal strifeparticularly with nobles and royals. They waged their own battles with words and political alliances, and honestly, I preferred the more direct method of hitting and kicking. Lissa and Christian in particular had to navigate some troubled waters. They were both from royal families, which meant they got a lot of attention both inside and outside of the Academy. Things were worse for them than for most Moroi royals. Christian’s family lived under the shadow cast by his parents. They had purposely become Strigoi, trading their magic and morality to become immortal and subsist on killing others. His parents were dead now, but that didn’t stop people from not trusting him. They seemed to think he’d go Strigoi at any moment and take everyone else with him. His abrasiveness and dark sense of humor didn’t really help things, either. Lissa’s attention came from being the last one left in her family. No other Moroi had enough Dragomir blood in them to earn the name. Her future husband would probably have enough somewhere in his family tree to make sure her children were Dragomirs, but for now, being the only one made her kind of a celebrity. Thinking about this suddenly reminded me of the warning scrawled on the mirror. Nausea welled up in me. That dark anger and despair stirred, but I pushed it aside with a joke. â€Å"You guys should try solving your problems like we do. A fistfight here and there might do you royals some good.† Both Lissa and Christian laughed at this. He glanced up at her with a sly smile, showing his fangs as he did. â€Å"What do you think? I bet I could take you if we went one on one.† â€Å"You wish,† she teased. Her troubled feelings lightened. â€Å"I do, actually,† he said, holding her gaze. There was an intensely sensual note to his voice that made her heart race. Jealousy shot through me. She and I had been best friends our entire life. I could read her mind. But the fact remained: Christian was a huge part of her world now, and he played a role I never couldjust as he could never have a part of the connection that existed between me and her. We both sort of accepted but didn’t like the fact that we had to split her attention, and at times, it seemed the truce we held for her sake was paper thin. Lissa brushed her hand against his cheek. â€Å"Behave.† â€Å"I am,† he told her, his voice still a little husky. â€Å"Sometimes. But sometimes you don’t want me to†¦.† Groaning, I stood up. â€Å"God. I’m going to leave you guys alone now.† Lissa blinked and dragged her eyes away from Christian, suddenly looking embarrassed. â€Å"Sorry,† she murmured. A delicate pink flush spread over her cheeks. Since she was pale like all Moroi, it actually sort of made her look prettier. Not that she needed much help in that department. â€Å"You don’t have to go†¦.† â€Å"No, it’s fine. I’m exhausted,† I assured her. Christian didn’t look too broken up about seeing me leave. â€Å"I’ll catch you tomorrow.† I started to turn away, but Lissa called to me. â€Å"Rose? Are you†¦are you sure you’re okay? After everything that happened?† I met her jade green eyes. Her concern was so strong and deep that it made my chest ache. I might be closer to her than anyone else in the world, but I didn’t want her worrying about me. It was my job to keep her safe. She shouldn’t be troubled about protecting meparticularly if Strigoi had suddenly decided to make a hit list of royals. I flashed her a saucy grin. â€Å"I’m fine. Nothing to worry about except you guys tearing each other’s clothes before I get a chance to leave.† â€Å"Then you better go now,† said Christian dryly. She elbowed him, and I rolled my eyes. â€Å"Good night,† I told them. As soon as my back was to them, my smile vanished. I walked back to my dorm with a heavy heart, hoping I wouldn’t dream about the Badicas tonight. How to cite Frostbite Chapter 2, Essay examples