When I was a student at American University, there was an off-duty police officer with a gun, but the students did not realize he was a police officer and reported him. Luis heard about the incident and was very concerned. He was the only employee from Capital One that took interest in this incident. He also told me that I was a good writer, and that I should write a book someday. It was a pleasure getting to know him. 

 When I was pregnant the first time  I told all my family  that’s I was pregnant , everyone was so happy .  Junior was still a teenager  he was like Fatima I'm going to be an uncle .   I told him you sure are .  He was so happy  and excited .  I know  that my brother always had a good heart .  He was always about  Family  .  A few weeks later 

 I lost the baby  maybe I was 15 weeks .  I was really depressed  .  When I finally told Junior . He couldn't really say anything I saw tears in his eyes  made me really sad I hugged him  and he told me I'm not going to be at uncle anymore  it crushed my heart because he was so excited to have a niece or a nephew  .  I barely ever see my brother cry and when I did see him they crushed my heart  . What teenager cries when a sister loses a baby because you know at that age you're in another world but my brother  he was so concerned about me and the baby .  I was telling him he's with God or she's with God now .   All I remember was I hugged him for a long time  and I told him sorry Junior .  I will always love you little brother and I will always miss you

I always told you, that you were my Jacob from the twlight series. When my oldest chelsea was born you became so close to her. I I would tell him "did you imprint on my daughter"!  He would just laugh.. When you would walk through my apt door I would be so happy! Yes! Finally get to have some peace time. (Mommy time) and actually I would talk to a grown up not to my babies lol.  Chelsea would grab onto your leg and not let go! You would laugh and tell her how big she was always getting and play with her. You would go to the bathroom and she would stick her fingers through the bottom door and her mouth saying " are you done wuis? Come on let's play". You would just laugh and say " almost ". When it was time for you go it literally took another 30 min because chelsea didn't want you to leave. She wanted to keep playing with you. She would grab your hands and put her feet on your thighs and do back flips on you. And I would see you were already tired because she would want to do it like 100 times but you never stopped. All to see my baby smile you would do it. After the 30 Mins were up, you would say "damn time goes by so fast". And promise chelsea you'd be back to see her next time. I wish we can see you just one more time and play with you one last time. We miss you so much. 

I think that it's safe to say that anyone who ever spent time with Luis knew that he was almost never on time (even to things that he planned.) One of the moments that will always stand out to me was one time last Setemeber. He asked me if I wanted to go out to dinner. I said sure! So the day that we were supposed to go to dinner we texted each other to confirm. He told me that we'll meet up at 10pm (now in my mind I already knew that 10pm was not happening. I assumed 10:45pm.) So, by 9:30pm I started getting ready then I got a text from him asking if I was ready. He let me know that he was going to be a little late.I told him that it was okay, but I will still get ready anyway. He texted me again around 10:30pm when I'm about ready but Luis isn't lol. No surprise there lol. We kept texting about us being almost ready and ny now it was11:30pm and neither of us had actually left. When I finally left to meet up with him I realized I forgot my wallet and had to go back for it. In my head I was thinking this should give Luis more time, so he'll be there before me. Not even with that detour I showed up 5 mins before he did and he got there at 11:56pm. I couldn't help but to laugh I even remeber telling him "Damn Luis, you can't make it on time to anything." Almost 2 hours after our initial dinner time. Looking back at it now that dinner was one of the last moments we laughed so hard all night. That night he asked me to go on a trip with him to Miami to watch the heats play. I was so excited! I remember telling him "Just make sure you are on time to catch the plane." 

I went to Montgomery College after graduating from Springbrook in 2004. After graduating from MC in 2007, I spent 4 long years at Towson University, and in an environment where I would be woken up at 2 in the morning because somoene blacked out from drinking and the door needed to be opened. I didn't like drinking in college for this reason: In fact, I had 1 drink over these 4 years. But then I met Luis Mendez while pursuing a Master's in Spanish: Latin American Studies at American University and also working as a bank teller at Capital One Bank. One day at work, Luis and his coworkers were planning on going to Parva Night Club, and I out of nowhere asked Luis if it would be ok if I could come along, and he said sure, and his coworker Pavel goes: "Tonight's gonna be fun!" . Later that night, I saw him enter the club looking like he was ready to get the ladies, drinks and above all have fun.  I ran into a ton of people from Springbrook and Montgomery College, and only people with a passion for having fun after work like Luis Mendez know how to provide that opportunity to you. But let me be clear: everyone in life has their escape; whether its playing basketball, in my case learning Spanish words from the Latino community that no amount of higher education could provide (i.e. Luis told me that in Nicaragua a girl is a "chavala"), and I'm not sure if alcohol was Luis's escape, but what I am absolutely certain is that every second of his life (As Franky Mena mentioned at Collins Funeral Home), Luis Mendez was filled with energy, like the Nicaraguan Energizer Bunny. So if you want another nickname Luis, here you go: "The Nicaraguan Energizer Bunny). Amen. 

2013 I was 9 weeks pregnant . My first little baby. I went to my gyno and told her about my discomfort on my left side uterus . She gave me a referral to go get a sonogram. I got 2 sonogram done that day . The first one with the thing they run on top of your belly and the second with a long probe thingy. I can tell by the technician face something was wrong. She went to get the doctor . I remember like it was yesterday the look on her face . My baby died at 9 weeks or a little before that. I told my family and my husband . I stayed lying on my moms bed crying . I remember my brother walking into the room with flowers later in the evening coming home from work  and most likely said some words of wisdom but I was so deep into my thoughts that my world closed. But I know he must of felt sad too because he loves being an uncle I can see it with my sisters kids.  How I wish I can remember what he said but I'm pretty sure it must of been something nice. 

Lol already laughing about this one. So when I was about 15 or 16 years old I wanted so bad to go out with this guy I thought was cute. One night I wanted to sneak out the house but couldn't because my parents when to sleep so late . So by 12 mignight my parents are still wide awake in the kitchen. Ugh great ..... My ride ( the boy I liked ) said he will be in front of my building around 1,in the morning. Mind you we lived in a 3 story building. Anyways I couldn't get out the front door so  jr lol had an idea to tie some blankets together to make a rope lol we didn't have enough blankets for it to be long enough lol so next idea was just for me to jump off the window my ride was outside by this point. So jjjrrrrr said in the count of three I will push you  lol so he counted to three he was ready to push when I was like no no no not yet . My palms were sweaty and my feet. My heart was racing . So we tried it again. This time he counted up until 2 and he pushed me out . Lol the guy I liked was standing outside with his arms extended out like if he forreal was about to catch me lol heelllooo it's a 3 story building . I remember hitting his face with my feet. Thank god for snow on the ground too . Like that helped much . Once I got up on my feet I told jr  that I will AIM ( Aol instant messenger ) him when I was on my way back home. So he can open the front door for me. Sure enough he did. Lol he open the door so slowly cause man let me tell you when it's 3 something in the morning that damn door made so much noise if you opened fast.  To be young and careless is what I call the good ol days. Well my brother you had my back no matter what .....