The day began warm and sunny, typical for San Francisco. I thought it was going to be another normal day at the hospital, waking up, going to work, coming home, kissing my wife and kids, then going to sleep. I'm a doctor, not an extraordinary man by any means. I'm in my mid-thirties living the family life, you know? Two kids, a wife, a dog, and a cat. I never thought this would happen to us. I guess no one ever does.
On May 6, 2029, I did my normal morning routine: brushed my teeth, made breakfast for the family, and kissed my wife before I left for work. A man on the radio reported there was going to be an earthquake, but it was going to be minimal so I didn't worry since they are common here. As I walked into the hospital, I bumped into one of my co-workers, Jeff. He expressed his worry about the earthquake that was coming, but I told him I was not worried about it. After greeting some other co-workers, I walked into my office and settled in for my first appointment of the day. The first patient complained about a headache when it was just a common cold. It happens a lot; patients come in thinking they have something worrisome when it usually turns out to be something very common. Sometimes I wonder if I even like this job. I know I started this job wanting to help people because my father died helping a person escape a robber. I wanted to live up to his glory and honor, but it has totally gone downhill. It was finally time for lunch. Sushi Saturdays are my favorite because it's the best lunch all week. As I headed to the cafeteria, it happened.
The building started shaking like God was playing with silly putty in the palm of his hand. I could hear the people down the lobby screaming frantically for help. Why was this happening when they said it would be a minimal quake? I left my office, and as I ran down the hallway and the building was falling apart, I saw Jeff and the same co-workers I talked with before work. Jeff was yelling for me to follow him. I looked to my left, and all I could see was the building falling on people and blood everywhere. This was Ragnarok and the world was coming to an end. I ran to my right behind Jeff. People kept screaming as we ran past. I had never been more afraid in my life.
We made it outside, and I could see the devastation after twenty minutes of pure destruction: shattered roads, collapsed buildings, dead people, and the shocked faces as people stood in awe of what they'd just survived. San Francisco was destroyed in less than twenty minutes. Then the thoughts hit me: Are my kids okay? Is our home destroyed? I checked my phone, but I had no service. It was a Saturday so, the kids should have been at home with my wife. I prayed to God that they'd be okay as I stood there in shock with Jeff.
I looked at Jeff. "I have to go make sure my family is okay, but please be safe." He nodded. I know he was probably having the same thoughts.
I checked my phone again. Still no service. I panicked knowing I couldn't take a car or a train. I had to start running. Just like track back back in high school, I ran as fast as I could home looking left and right watching the chaos, but I wasn't that same high school kid anymore. Riots had broken out; the city had been broken in under an hour. Where were the authorities, the National Guard? My commute to work was only twenty minutes by car, but I wondered how long it would take on foot. An hour later, I finally made it to my street.
My heart dropped. All the houses on the street had been demolished in the earthquake. I ran to my house hoping my family was okay. My heart raced with fear as I made it to the front of the house. I called out my wife's name over and over again. No answer. I looked to my left. My neighbors, John and Nancy, stood outside their home. I ran over to them to ask if they had seen my family.
John said, "I think I saw them leave in a hurry a little while ago, but it was only Amy and Sarah."
Why was it only Amy and Sarah? Where was David, my son? I ask them if they knew where they went as they shook their heads no.
"I think some survivors of the quake went to the community center. Somehow it's still standing. Maybe check there?" John suggested.
"Thank you." I began running in the direction of the the community center praying they were there.
I'm exhausted from running, but I made it to the doors. I slammed the doors and ran inside. I saw my wife and daughter as I rushed to hug them, relieved. I looked at my wife. She was crying. I calmly asked, "Where's David?"
She looked up. It was a face I'd never seen before. She looked pale and lost like she was ready to give it all up.
"Paul, David was crushed when the house collapsed. We heard him screaming, but all we could do was run."
My stomach sank. Never would I have thought my child would die before me. I dropped to my knees in tears, all hope lost. What a cruel thing God could do. As the day passed, we all finally learned what had happened. What was supposed to be a minimal earthquake turned out to be the biggest disaster in the history of the world. It was a day scientists say the world moved like no other. A day a whole city was demolished. A day my heart was destroyed.
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