Connor W. Per.

6 ELA

The Boy who survived

It was an ordinary day in Thailand, but it was a busy day for us, a family of six. My parents John and Linda. My brothers Sam and Nick. My sisters Megan and Courtney. Then there was me, Hurley. I was 13 at the time. We used to live in America but my father got a new job and we had to relocate to Thailand. It was the day after Christmas, December 26, 2004. We got to our house which was about a quarter mile away from the beach and immediately started unpacking. We had a long day ahead of us. My parents, John and Linda started unpacking. Since we were so exhausted, all my brother and sisters went out to go get some ice cream that was right up the street. RUN, RUN, RUUUUUN! said my oldest sister, Megan. Thats when the Thailand Tsunami hit. Hi, my name is Hurley and I am a survivor of the Thailand Tsunami. When the wave hit, I got washed away up on a stoplight post, I was holding on for my dear life. All of a sudden I saw my younger brother Sam, being washed out to the ocean. HELP, HELP! shouted Sam. I just couldnt let him go, so I let go of the light post and let the current of the water bring me closer to him. I heard voices from every direction. I saw blood, dead bodies in the water. It was killing me from the inside. I finally got a bodies length to him and when I tried to reach for him, a branch ran right into my thy creating a big gash. I saw blood come up from my leg and I fainted for about 5 seconds. When I woke up in the water, I was nauseous and I was being knocked around by random things such as branches, rocks, even bodies. I finally got my breath and came to the surface, it was tough with the current. When I

got to the surface Sam was gone, I looked in all directions, yelling, did not see him anywhere. I had to swim as hard as I ever could since I was going against the current. I had to get to the nearest safe place which was a metal hut that was almost underwater. I got on top of the hut and just layed there. I was passed out. I felt like giving up right there and then. I woke up and there was still water everywhere but the current cooled down. It was an awful sight, dead bodies everywhere, I vomited three times before I even stood up. I was still dizzy but I stood up and everything was destroyed. I said to myself, I have to find my family. I got down from the hut and the water died down so I could walk through it. I walked in water for hours before I came to land. My feet were sore with cuts all over them. I looked at my gash and it was all swelled up and I could see some of my muscle. I vomited but nothing came out, my stomach was empty and I was hungry. I kept walking and I noticed someone laying on his side on the ground and saw so many scratches and cuts on his back. I could hear him moaning and it freaked me out. I walked a little closer and he seemed familiar, it was my brother. I ran to him and got to my knees and flipped him over. His eye was swelled up with blood and he kept coughing out blood. Sam? Sam? Answer me, can you see, can you move, can you breathe, are you going to be okay? I said really fast. My mind was racing and I did not know what to do. Okay, I am going to get you out of here and you are going to be fine. I said. I slowly tried to help him up and it was hard because I was so exhausted. Can you walk? I asked. He did not answer and when I helped him up, he tried to stand but he yelled and fell down. I noticed that his ankle did not look right and he must have broken it. Put your arm around my back and rest yourself against me so you do not put pressure on your ankle. I said. I did not know where to go but we had to try to go somewhere so we started walking in the direction I was already walking. Throughout the day Sam talked but

very little. He was breathing very weird but I did not know why. It was getting dark so we had to find a place to sleep. Luckily we actually found a mattress so we laid that under a tree and slept. Throughout the night I woke up multiple times due to Sams breathing. It did not sound good and his eye was not getting any better. I finally fell asleep and slept till morning. I asked Sam if he wanted to get up and start moving. He didnt answer. Then I shook him and he still did not wake up or move. My heart dropped and shook him even more. Sam, Saaaaaaaammm!! I yelled. I started to cry and felt his pulse, he had no pulse and no heartbeat. Sam, wake up, wake up! I yelled. There was no use, he was dead. I layed by him for at least an hour. I finally got up and lay him down by the tree. I put grass and flowers around him and covered his eye. I got up and walked away. I kept walking straight, still tired, still hungry, still anxious to find something or someone. I walked for about three hours and I felt dead inside but then I cam across this large building that did not get wrecked. I was curious what was inside so I went for it. When I went inside, all these people were laying across the floor and it seemed like it had multiple stories. I tried to look for my family but none of them were insight. So I went up a floor and I realized it was an hospital and it was filled with people. Doctors everywhere and I was trying to look for my family, none insight. I looked on all floors and none were insight, I sat down and started to cry. I was there for like ten minutes and then a doctor tapped my shoulder and had food and water in their hand. You look hungry, here take this. the doctor said. I took it and ate it in an instant. I saw you looking around and it seemed like you were looking for someone? the doctor said. Yes I am, I am trying to find my family. I told him the names of my family and the last name. I will be back, stay here. the doctor said. He didnt come back until 2 hours later. Your parents are John and Linda, yes? He asked. Yes? I said confusingly. I

am very sorry but your parents died here, there was nothing we could do, they were in horrible condition. he said calmly. I sat there, didn't know what to do anymore, didn't know what to feel. I feel dead. I said with no expression. I am very sorry and there was no sign of your other siblings, sorry. The doctor said sadly. I will give you some good news though. The doctor said, trying to make me feel better. I will get you aboard the plane flight back to America and we will contact you if there is any sign of your family. I didnt know what I wanted to do but I was wondering why he did it for me. I didnt ask but the day after I made a decision to fly back to America. It is February 24, 2005 and I live with my Grandma and Grandpa. I still havent heard anything about my siblings. I went into deep depression the first month I got back. Didnt sa y a lot, didnt do a lot. I felt like I was nothing. I am getting better everyday and Grandparents are helping me. It is still a long road ahead of me but I am the boy who survived.