MY MEMOIR

Christchurch Earthquake

I toss and turn, unable to fall asleep. I feel uneasy, but I can’t understand why. I shake my head, close my eyes, and try to push the feeling away.

My eyes snap open, widening in fear as the bed starts to jump and buck about like a bull at a rodeo. I scream out. “Mum!!!” Tears start to flow down my face. What’s going on? I think. Why is this happening to me? I hear books falling from my bookshelf, and Monty meowing and hissing. I start to panic, fear overriding my senses. My mind shuts down and the only thing I can think of is finding Mum.

Throwing off my blankets, I stumble to the door, shivering in the night air. I can’t see anything. I grope around for the light switch and flick it on. Nothing happens. I try again and again, frantically willing it to turn on. The room stays dark. Why is this happening? Is this a dream? What is this? I walk out into the corridor, and see a dark shape coming towards me.

“Are you alright!?” Mum asks anxiously, pulling me into her arms. I give a small nod. “We’re going to be alright” she says soothingly.

“What's happening?” I ask, my voice wavering.

“It’s an earthquake, come on, let’s go into my bed”.

I manage a small smile.

We stumble clumsily across the floor, and clamber into her big bed, where we wait for the ground to stop shaking and the rumbling noise to subside. I listen to the groaning of the house, the smashing sound of fallen plates, and car alarms going off. I cuddle into mum, and as the earthquake stops, I fall asleep, shaken but glad to be alive.