Dear Journal,
It is my twelfth night living in complete darkness. I have lost track of time due to the shivering cold and weary feeling of uncertainty. Each day is extremely difficult and the cold is staggering beyond imagination. At first, I thought the blackout would only last a few days. Each day is a mystery, and my future is uncertain. What will happen next? Questions plague my psyche while the cold tears at my body.
No electricity, no light, and no communication. When I peer out my window, I see tree branches and electricity wires littering the streets. It is impossible to walk outside without snapping a branch or encountering a fallen wire. My mother is always prepared for the worst. She is able to calm all of us. But now, as the simplest tasks require stress and frustration, even her resolve has been tested. After the fifth day, our refrigerator smelled like repulsive rotten fish. The smell still remains in my mind. No one ever can forget the smell of rotten food polluting your home house for twelve days… At night my siblings and I stare at our breath, while we shiver from the cold. The frost creeps inside and eats at our extremities. My siblings and I revisit our childhood through beloved childhood games and activities. Although I live with the uncertainty of tomorrow, I still find it in me to remain positive and upbeat. The days have gotten shorter and the nights have grown longer. Instead of fighting for light during sunset, we sleep less and wake up earlier to revel in the day. Nights are the worst; they bring loneliness, fear, and insecurity. But when the sun rises from its blissful sleep, I find myself again. I am shocked and don’t expect my power to come back anytime soon. It is dark outside, and the cold forces my body to sleep. I bid farewell, in hope for a brighter and warmer tomorrow. |
Sincerely,
Teresa Lo |