The ground began to rumble beneath us. Buildings quickly crumbled to the ground.

Though we survived through the earthquake, my family and I have nowhere to go. We walk through this horrible disaster trying to move on. We think about the past, and the buildings that used to look so big and strong, that are now the rubble we walk on. 

I no longer know what to think. Do we go back to our old ways, our ways of thinking, doing, living? Many of the people around here are like us and have nowhere to go. We try to pretend that everything will be ok, but in my mind I know we won‘t be able to go back.

I can still remember, waking up this morning to nothing but our little hut. Things were already bad enough. I didn‘t think it could get much worse. All of my family and I sat closely together in our little hut just like any ordinary day, when suddenly the ground began to rapidly shake.  After the earthquake was over, we were together and we were safe, and that‘s all we cared about at the time. Little did we know that down the street many of our friends and loved ones were living their last few seconds of life.

Once I got a chance to take it all in, I collapsed to the ground and began to sob, crying and wishing that everything could be back to normal. I continued to cry, feelig hopeless, but at the same time grateful that my family and I survived. I relive the shakes, rumbles, and crashes over and over inside my head, trying to take it all in, but at the same time push it away.

Now as I walk down the dusty, broken and crumbled streets, my family and I search for a new place to live. This earthquake was not only a few rumbles and a crash, but it represents all of the lives who have been torn down and now have to start all over. Even though it may seem we have nothing, we will always have our hope, faith, and love that motivates us to move forward.