Breeze

Quarter 2:

~ If you had to leave your home unexpectedly, what five objects would you bring and why?

I skipped home after school and into my neighborhood. Something seemed wrong though, because the air was still and every house seemed deserted. I turned open my doorknob and entered my house, dumping my school bag on the ground, like I always did. All of a sudden, my mom rushed toward me, looking panicky and then tightly gripped my arm and cried, as if she didn’t believe it,
“We’re leaving Shanghai. Right now.”
“WHAT?” I gasped, stunned.
“No questions, come on! We’re being evacuated, and each of us is only allowed to bring five objects,” my mom practically shrieked. I pushed past my mom and climbed up the stairs. Dashing to my room, I tried to decide what to bring, knowing that we’d get the basic necessities such as food, water and shelter. I realized that I should pack objects of entertainment or things that I valued most. I grabbed my bulky wallet, filled with my lifetime savings from birthdays, special occasions and my meager amount of pocket money because it was something I valued and would like to have with me for all times, just in case something bad happens. I also brought my backpack to store my items so that I didn’t have to carry everything by hand. I shoved in my laptop for entertainment in case my family had a long layover somewhere. Then, I snatched my old, battered phone lying on my desk because my parents and I had passports of different nationalities and if we were to be evacuated to our home country (the one on your passport), we would be separated and I could call them so we could arrange to meet up. Then I hesitated for a second, knowing that I was only allowed to bring one more object.
“Melisa, ready yet?” my mom hollered from downstairs.
“Almost, almost” I murmured, trying to think of a final object to bring. Then something bright, placed at the corner of my room, caught my eye. It was a toy I had had ever since I was born. I gently picked it up and placed it in my backpack. Finally, I gave one last sweeping look around my room and gently closed the door, hoping that someday I’d be able to return home. I closed my eyes, made a wish, and then descended down the stairs to meet my unknown fate.

PS. (for cindee) This is a journal entry which is fiction and I wrote it using the prompt.