That was all Hatsumi could do as she laid sandwiched between a fallen wall panel and a ceiling with an injured leg. It was so close to saving her baby daughter from her crib. She had imagined herself rushing into her house just in time to catch hold of her precious child, and then running out safe from being crushed by falling wood. Why, why, had it not be so, she lamented. I thought God loved my baby, loved me as well , and that was the reason He gave me this baby after so many years of trying and waiting. Please don't take her away from me, please. Hatsumi screamed her voice hoarse.
Mummy, Mummy, where are you, Hatsumi almost felt as if she heard her four month old baby calling. Mummy, Mummy, don't leave me! Hatsumi was helpless. She cried like a baby.She tried hard to move but her injured left leg was numb and would not move at all. She used her hands to claw her way towards the crib but in vain. She only got her nails broken.
Soon, the sea water moved in. Where is everybody, she asked herself a silly question. She knew she had to save herself and her daughter because time was too short. No time to turn back. She wished she had not gone out to deliver the finished kimono to the bride-to-be who lived not far away. She was too proud of her work to wait. Her husband had warned her to be alert though he did not think anything bad would happen. There had been tremours for years and years , and nothing really dangerous had come out of them.
Anyway, make sure you don't leave the house without the baby, he warned as he left for work in the city. What is she going to tell him, that is if she and the baby survive at all. Suddenly, she felt the pressure on her body grew less and seconds after that, she knew why. A big wave must had hit the shore and the sea water had now moved in. Everything in the house started to bob around and for one moment, she saw her baby floating on the foam rubber mat she was lying on. However later, she could not see her because a big cupboard which had floated in front of her, blocked her view. She tried to stay calm so that she would not sink into the rising water. She clung on to the cupboard door. It hurt her hands but she decided to focus on saving her daughter to cut off all the pain she felt.
The baby was crying and crying now. Where, where, are you, my baby, Hatsumi called out desperately. Hatsumi could not hold on anymore. The more she panicked at the thought of losing her baby, the more tensed she became. She slipped and sank into the water . She struggled, kicking hard to surface but to no avail.
Sorry, my baby, sorry, I cannot save you. Sorry, I have to leave you. God will look after you. God , you MUST. Take me instead. Hatsumi floated away together with the other items in the house leaving Masuko still floating on the foam rubber mat trapped in a corner at the rooftop. Mummy, Mummy, what is this funny taste? Mummy, Mummy, I am wet. I don't like it, Mummy. The baby cried as she complained of the unfamiliar surroundings. An hour later, she got tired and fell asleep.
Mummy, Mummy, where are you, Hatsumi almost felt as if she heard her four month old baby calling. Mummy, Mummy, don't leave me! Hatsumi was helpless. She cried like a baby.She tried hard to move but her injured left leg was numb and would not move at all. She used her hands to claw her way towards the crib but in vain. She only got her nails broken.
Soon, the sea water moved in. Where is everybody, she asked herself a silly question. She knew she had to save herself and her daughter because time was too short. No time to turn back. She wished she had not gone out to deliver the finished kimono to the bride-to-be who lived not far away. She was too proud of her work to wait. Her husband had warned her to be alert though he did not think anything bad would happen. There had been tremours for years and years , and nothing really dangerous had come out of them.
Anyway, make sure you don't leave the house without the baby, he warned as he left for work in the city. What is she going to tell him, that is if she and the baby survive at all. Suddenly, she felt the pressure on her body grew less and seconds after that, she knew why. A big wave must had hit the shore and the sea water had now moved in. Everything in the house started to bob around and for one moment, she saw her baby floating on the foam rubber mat she was lying on. However later, she could not see her because a big cupboard which had floated in front of her, blocked her view. She tried to stay calm so that she would not sink into the rising water. She clung on to the cupboard door. It hurt her hands but she decided to focus on saving her daughter to cut off all the pain she felt.
The baby was crying and crying now. Where, where, are you, my baby, Hatsumi called out desperately. Hatsumi could not hold on anymore. The more she panicked at the thought of losing her baby, the more tensed she became. She slipped and sank into the water . She struggled, kicking hard to surface but to no avail.
Sorry, my baby, sorry, I cannot save you. Sorry, I have to leave you. God will look after you. God , you MUST. Take me instead. Hatsumi floated away together with the other items in the house leaving Masuko still floating on the foam rubber mat trapped in a corner at the rooftop. Mummy, Mummy, what is this funny taste? Mummy, Mummy, I am wet. I don't like it, Mummy. The baby cried as she complained of the unfamiliar surroundings. An hour later, she got tired and fell asleep.
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