The earthquake hit at 8 a.m. It was a Sunday and I was at home. My two–year–old sister and 80–year–old grandma were at the next room. Grandma was playing with Mary, stroking Mary’s chubby cheeks with her long wrinkled fingers before the earthquake and I was just busy checking out the newest songs on the Internet. Dogs were barking outside and neighbours were chatting. Everything was so peaceful and normal. It all seemed to be just another regular day when I felt sudden shudder. It was short, lasted only for 3 seconds, but quite shocking. I had no idea what was going on, thinking the shudder was just the drilling from the construction site nearby. I glued my eyes to the screen once more. However, a sort of strong vibration started again and pictures started dropping from the walls. Books flew off the book shelves and loud clashes were heard. It was then I realized that I was experiencing an earthquake and immediately I covered my head and ducked under my bed. Feeling terrified, my heart pounded hard and my eyes reddened, wanting to cry. ‘Where are my parents when I need them?’ I shrieked silently but I knew that there was no time to complain or panic. I had to leave this house as soon as possible.
Summoning up my courage, I crawled out of my bed and screamed for Grandma and Mary. They didn’t answer me. I yelled at the top of my lungs over and over again but still there was no reply. Despite the loud earthquake and the collapse of things in my house, I could hear no human voice. My heart dropped like an elevator, descending to the very low bottom. ‘Are they …dead?’ I wondered depressingly. At that particular thought, my whole body weakened, as if someone had captured my soul, I dropped down to the dust and rubbles, with streaming tears. I know I should make a run for the door and leave this house before I got squished by it but I was unwilling to take another step. I was too devastated that I actually wanted to give up my own life.
Crashes of furniture and cracking of buildings continued but I just saton the floor soullessly. Clutching my head, I cried my eyes out and formed pools of muddy water on the floor, with the bits of dust and cement in it. As I looked at my tiny reflection, I thought of all the great memorable times I had with Mary and Grandma. Pictures of ours going to the park, eating ice-cream and playing games flooded my head. Suddenly, I saw Grandma talking to me, ‘What are you doing here? It’s dangerous now. Darling, you should never give up your life like that. Cherish it, I mean. You only live once, right?’ And her face faded.
That certain imagination was the wake up call I needed and I bounced up and rushed to the door in a split second.
When I left the home containing all my childhood memories, I looked back to bid farewell. Just after I turned my head back to run away for help, a ginormous “Crash” was heard. My dear house had crashed down.
I could not even think about Grandma and Mary inside the house, fearing the more I thought the higher chance I would faint. The earthquake finally stopped but it left my heart shuddering greatly. Not far away, I saw a group of neighbours assembling and I joined them. Neighbours were comforting and hugging each other, all releasing their fear. My next door neighbour, Mrs. Yeung, saw me and hugged me tight. Tears streamed once more and my head spun but I could feel a little comforting, which I lacked for the past 10 minutes.
‘It’s alright dear. I know it’s horrifying and frightening, but at least your whole family is ok,’ she comforted me in a soothing voice.
‘My family…my family is ok?’ I screamed out loudly, with my eyes wide open. As soon as I finished my question, I could see at the corner of my eyes, two familiar faces, Grandma and Mary.
I gasped in delight as I flung my arms around them. ‘Oh my goodness, it is a miracle! You two are alive! You guys survived! How? When? Where did you go?’ I uttered questions continuously, not waiting for grandma to reply. Actually, I didn’t really care if she answered them. I was just glad that they were alive.
After I settled down my feelings, l looked back at our lovely neighbourhood. Yesterday, it was a beautiful street, with colourful houses and flowers. Now it looked like a junkyard, with dust in the air and gloominess in the atmosphere. However, all of this didn’t matter to me. The most important thing was that my family and I were safe and sound. I grabbed Grandma’s hand and kissed little Mary on her cheek and smiled merely. Tears flooded my eyes again, partly due to the relief I felt as my family was right next to me and partly due to the shame I felt. I nearly gave up my life, just because of some devastating news. I felt ashamed that this thought had ever popped out of my head, and pledged to myself to cherish my precious life from now onwards.