Darkness. No light. No sound. Nothing. Not even a faintest whisper.

It felt like I was floating

in the air.

Suddenly, after what felt like an eternity, I sensed something.

Then I realized that my eyes were shut tight.

I opened them, and what a strange sight! I was lying on a warm bed, and I could see
everything. I could see a lot of people peering at me. Though the faces were varied, there
was one thing they had in common- they looked worried, yet at the same time relieved.

Where am I? What is this place? How did I get here? What's happening?

A million questions run through my mind- all waiting to be answered. Everything is fuzzy.

I tried to speak, but nothing came out. Nothing. I tried again. Only a strange gurgling sound
came out of my lips. Frustrated that I can't tell them what I want, I cried.

" It's okay, honey, we're here. Don't worry. Hush." A warm soothing hand caressed my
cheek. I tried again, but I failed. Feeling so helpless, I let the tears flow.

"I'm afraid that the damage is greater than what we feared. I am sorry I was not able to
completely heal her. I'm afraid that she will not be able to speak nor hear."

What are they talking about? I could see their lips moving, but I can't hear anything.

Looking at the sad faces of my parents and the tired, dejected face of the doctor, I suddenly
remebered everything.

It was an accident- a mistake. Even now, as I think about it, I could not believe that I am
still alive. A massive earthquake hit our small town, and everything was devastated. It was
very lucky I survived when the school collapsed. I was underground for 2 days, and just at
the moment I lost hope, the rescue teams found me.

Later on, I was told- through writing- that my parents, who were out of town at the time
the earthquake hit us, came back immediately upon learning my condition. A rescuer
reached them through phone using a little contact card I had in my wallet. However, the
trauma and my injuries were so severe that my hearing and speech ability was impaired.

It seemed that I had no further hope to live.

But I soon discovered that life will have a meaning, depending on how you live it.

During the succeeding days, I shut myself in my room, and allowed no one except my
parents and nurse, to come near me. I mourned my loss. I became bitter, and I did not
have any hope left. Instead of being grateful that I was still alive, I wallowed in misery and
dwelled in my pain. Soon, even my parents gave up on helping me become happy again.
They resigned themselves to the fate of their only child. But my nurse was different.

After a few months, my health improved gradually, and so did my moods. The accident
occured in spring, and it was already fall by the time I was allowed to have short walks in
the nearby park. However, I did not want to go outside, especially since I will see the
happiness of other people who can laugh, listen and talk, and I fear that I would become
bitter again.