Silence rang around the class, I stayed put in my chair as the clock ticks and ticks. My old fragile teacher, with her white hairs growing out of her roots, Ms George, had just explained to us about some crazy decimals! My hair flew up to the sky, I was burning hot with all these layers on! Whispers begin to sound louder, my ears hurt. The class starts to shake aggressively, what’s happening, everyone screams, I get thrown to the floor, my head starts to hurt. Smells of dust make its way into my mouth, it’s hard for me to breathe. Ahh I scream out, a brick had just fallen on top of my arm. I can’t see: everything had just collapsed. Ms George had been right next to me, blood rushed out of her mouth, my visibility started to worsen. A shriek slowly comes out from her mouth. It starts to smell like burning wood, rumbles continue, screams echo in my ears, bits of bricks fill my mouth. I try to spit them out, I can’t, I can’t stop coughing. I was still on the ground. Adrenaline rushed through my body so quickly, I pushed the brick with my leg, it felt numb, I screamed like I was jumping off a cliff. I try to stand, why am I wet, I check my left arm there is a streak of blood from my elbow to my knuckles. Blood begun to drip down my fingers. It felt quite light, how many minutes had passed? Dust particles start to settle and I see my classmates’ bodies are under heaps of rumble. I can’t move, my body stays stiff, my body locked in place, “what’s happening,” I wonder? The rubble covers the class, I run out the class, my black shoes fly off as the brick holds on to it. The sky, why was it dark grey like a bomb had just exploded. Was the earthquake that bad? It was terrible.
Hours pass by, I manage to arrive home. It doesn’t look the same! The house is in pieces, what used to be a 2 story house has turned into air. Wait, what happened to my sister and dad? They were in the house. The neighbour sees me in the distance, they lightly walk up to me. Their faces explain everything to me. I can’t believe it, my last time with her I had a fight, it was the stupidest fight, just over clothing. I roared at her, she desperately ran to her room, her face looked at me with disgust, and guilt took over me. They gave me the news I’d been dreading to hear. She didn’t make it, and neither did my dad. My dad wasn’t always there for me, he was always at work, he never wanted to spend time with his family. It still breaks my heart, even though he was at work, he would protect me, I never wanted his money, I just wanted his love! He just never gave it to me. Now what happened to mum? The neighbours stayed to help support me, the grief just took me over. I knelt down on the frosty damp concrete. Bawling my eyes out, all I wanted to do was cry! My mum, where could she be, she was in her office, could she still be alive or is she also dead? I see a car similar to my mum’s, a maroon car, could it be her? Impossible, she survived, happiness just fills my heart. Her hair curled up, marks on her face, her lipstick smeared, she looked dismay, does she know Dad and Jessica died? I don’t think she does? I don’t want her to hear what’s happened, but it’s for the best of her. Her car is damaged, dents and scratches are on the framework. She steps out, my face lights up, I don’t think about anything at this moment, I’m happy she’s still alive! Her tears stain my white long sleeve, I cry too. Neighbours came to surround us joining the hug, at last a hug that warms my heart. I love you Jessica and Dad, we all do.
