Blinding lightning crackled, as thunder boomed loud in the cloud covered sky. The wind howled, as it started to peel the roof off. The large four pane window shattered, as strong wind raced through knocking me off my feet. Rain poured in through the empty window pane sending shards of glass flying through the air. Leaks and gaps formed in the ceiling as water streamed in. The freezing water splashed at my knees, as I struggled to stand back up.

“Emily!” I heard my dad yell, his voice loud yet strained.

“Dad!” I hollered, hoping he was okay. I was shaking from the cold of the storm, and the fear that coursed through my veins. I forcefully trudged through the hip height water dodging the pieces of what used to be nice leather, wood and cloth furniture. Pain sliced through my leg from something sharp in the water. I have to get out of here, I thought, as my wound stung.

“Dad!” I called out again. I couldn’t leave without him. Suddenly, the roof of our small house came down. The walls collapsed, as the water from in the house rushed away, pulling me with it, like a current from the ocean. Outside, I tried to steady myself against a dark wooded oak tree, gasping for air, barely able to stand on my feet, as I fought against the storm. Rain pounded down onto me, as the air was overtaken by fog, making it impossible to see my surroundings. As lightning lit up the sky, I could see the dark, silhouettes of the trees left standing. Each breath I took burned my lungs, making my head ache. No oxygen seemed to be left in the extremely humid air.  

“Dad!” I tried to scream, but my lungs felt like they were filled with water. I frantically looked around for my dad. My chest felt tight as my eyes start to water. No, don’t think like that, he’s probably fine, I tried to reassure myself. A branch collapsed next to me. I have to get out of here, it isn’t safe, I thought. I took off running away from the only home I had ever known, hoping to find some sort of safety, and hoping my dad, wherever he was, would do the same.