Narrative on Earthquake: an Earth-shattering Experience

The Normal Day

I never thought much about earthquakes before. Sure, we had those boring drills in school where we'd hide under desks, but that morning started just like any other. I was making coffee in my kitchen, still half asleep, wearing my old pajamas. My dog Max was begging for breakfast like he always does.

When It Hit

The first weird thing I noticed was Max. He stopped bugging me for food and started acting strange - whining and running around in circles. Then my coffee cup started shaking. At first, I thought I was just tired, but then the whole kitchen started moving. The floor felt like jelly under my feet.

Everything Goes Crazy

Things got bad so fast. The noise was the scariest part - this deep rumbling sound like a huge truck, but it came from everywhere. My dishes started flying off the shelves, and that fancy mirror my mom gave me crashed down. I grabbed Max and tried to get under the kitchen table, but I could barely walk straight.

Under the Table

Hiding under that table was the longest minute of my life. Max was shaking like crazy in my arms, and I just kept talking to him to stay calm. "It's okay, buddy, it's okay," I kept saying, even though I was terrified. The lights went out, and in the dark, everything felt even scarier.

When It Stopped

Finally, it stopped. Just like that. The silence afterward was weird - like the whole world was holding its breath. I stayed under that table for a while, not sure if it was really over. When I finally got up, my kitchen looked like someone had turned it upside down and shaken it.

Looking Outside

Walking to my front door was like being in a weird dream. There was stuff everywhere - broken glass, pictures off the walls, books all over the floor. But nothing prepared me for what I saw outside. My street looked different. Some houses had damaged walls, there were cracks in the road, and my neighbor's car was crushed under a fallen tree.

Neighbors Coming Together

The cool thing (if you can call anything about this "cool") was how everyone came together. My neighbor Tom, who I'd barely talked to before, helped me clean up my kitchen. Sarah from across the street brought everyone coffee in paper cups. We all shared whatever food we had, since the power was out and everything in our fridges would go bad anyway.

The Following Days

Living without power was weird. No internet, no TV, just battery-powered radios telling us what was going on. We had to boil water before drinking it. At night, we'd sit outside with candles and flashlights, sharing stories and checking on each other. It was scary but kind of peaceful too.

Dealing with Aftershocks

The aftershocks were almost worse than the big quake. Every little shake would send everyone into panic mode. I started sleeping in my clothes with a flashlight next to my bed. Max wouldn't leave my side for weeks - guess we were both pretty traumatized.

What I Learned

This whole thing taught me some stuff I never expected. Like how important it is to know your neighbors. Or how many things we take for granted - running water, electricity, being able to just walk into a room without worrying the ceiling might fall on you.

Changes

I'm different now. I keep an emergency kit ready. I know where all the important documents are. Max and I have a plan (yes, I made an evacuation plan that includes my dog - don't judge). But the biggest change is in my head. I don't take normal days for granted anymore.

Looking Back

Sometimes I look at my kitchen, all fixed up now, and it's hard to believe what happened. The cracks in the walls are patched, and everything looks normal. But I remember. And whenever the ground shakes even a tiny bit, my heart still jumps. I guess some experiences just change you forever.

It's weird - something that lasted just a minute or two changed how I look at everything. Now I know that solid ground isn't always solid, that strangers can become friends real quick when things get rough, and that my dog might actually be smarter than me when it comes to detecting danger. Life's full of surprises, right?