2-18 Second-Year Girl    

 

   March 11th. Around that time, the whole school gathered in the gym to sing together. We were about to sing again for the last time when suddenly there was a rattling sound and a large earthquake. The earthquake probably felt big to everyone else, but as I was running for the exit, I was thinking that it wasn’t really that big. When I exited the door, a piece of wall came falling down, taking me by surprise and making me think that this wasn’t normal.

   I kept thinking about how the ground was still shaking even though I was outside and how I’d never experienced such a long earthquake before. The aftershocks continued. I was so scared I couldn’t even think straight. Then I couldn’t believe my ears when I heard the tsunami warning. When it said to get to higher ground, I ran as quickly as I could, my head blank with fear. With every aftershock, my body reacted and I couldn’t calm down. As I glanced towards Takata Matsubara [1], I saw the tide had gone out. It was out further than I had ever seen. Then it was coming straight in my direction, accompanied by horrible sounds. I kept saying I was scared. Those were the only words I could muster—“I’m scared.”

   I heard someone shout for us to move higher, and as I turned around and looked towards the sea, I simply couldn’t believe my eyes. All I could do was stare as Kesen Junior High School, everyone’s homes, lots of shops—all of Rikuzentakata, the town I love—was being obliterated by the tsunami. There was nothing I could do. Kichu [2] students evacuated to Futsukaichi. All I could think at that time was that this was a dream. There was no way this wasn’t a dream. While I struggled to accept reality, I simply couldn’t grasp what was going on at the time.

   That night was so quiet, and I was lonely and upset, my eyes hurting from crying so much. What made me happy was when the locals were kind enough to supply us students with rice. It really really remains in my heart. I think I began to think about my family around this time. As tears began to form in my eyes once again, I wondered if everyone was alright. When it became time to go to sleep, I hoped with all my heart that today’s ordeal was just a dream. I couldn’t sleep well, getting only two hours of sleep that night and feeling like time had stopped every time I checked the time.

   From the early morning, more and more people began to come to the Futsukaichi Community Center. I wondered who would come to a place like this, and although it was very dark, I could see very clearly. It was my dad. He was coming this way. It could only be dad. It was Dad. He was safe. So glad. So happy. He gave me a big hug when we were reunited. That strength was so strong I felt relieved. My dad was a fireman, and after he returned to work, I suddenly thought about my mom. My mom worked near the ocean. I wondered if she was alright. She’d be okay if she’d fled. All I could do was hope.

   I wasn’t hungry and spent breakfast in a daze. Since morning first approached, I repeatedly wished that all of this was just a dream. I had spent a long time hoping that as soon as the morning arrived, everything would return to normal. Maybe since none of us had gotten any sleep, around 11 I got together with my friends and we all slept together. After someone woke me up, I looked around and realized that there were less people. I figured they went home. I wanted to do the same.

   A voice called for all those people living in Sugoroku. I thought to myself we might finally be able to go home. I wanted to see my family again as soon as possible. That was all I could think about. We went by car, and I saw the scenes with my own eyes from above Futsukaichi. I rubbed my eyes in disbelief, and in the end asked where we were. Even I couldn’t believe what was coming out of my mouth. I didn’t understand what happened to the landscape. Everything was a mess! I was at a loss for words.

   It’s not like all of my family was there when I returned, but my grandmother, little sister, little brother, and several locals were there. I felt relieved. That night, I slept at the kotatsu [3] table. Were we going to spend the night with a single candle? How long would we have to live like this? I couldn’t stand it. I hated it.

   Two days later, my older brothers and I were hanging out together in the living room when we heard someone outside come running. We wondered who it was. We went to the genkan [4] to check. The door opened. It was mom. She was safe. Wonderful! That was the first time I’d ever heard my mom cry out loud. As she held the three of us close, I heard her through her tears saying it was wonderful and reassuring us she was never leaving again. That was the day my entire family was finally reunited.

   Then it was a week after the disaster. I had not taken a bath for many days so I headed for the family home. On the way there, I felt scared to see the town and wondered what it was like. What I saw made me doubt for an instant that a town had been there. There was nothing. People’s houses. Kesen Junior High. Everything was gone.