Aptly named, though thankfully the bodies piled in it were very much alive and breathing. Laughing even.
No one thought it was this serious. Now, with an unofficial count of over three hundred dead, the air on campus is more compressed. Students are also wrapped up in their papers, trying to study for finals without power. The internet clicks on and off on a whim.
The second time down:
College students all smooshed togehter, murmering. Happiness for postponed deadlines and sorrow for the damage done.
S'more stuffs make the rounds as the most substancial food that could be grabbed on the way down the stairs. All the girls groan at the possability of using the men's bathrooms down here. A general feeling of holiday floats about but spread about there are pits of people huddled into themselves, terrified.
Even some of the most gregarious have comfort items grasped in their fingers. I never would have guessed that there were this many stuffed animals in the building.
People borrow phones to call their parents; they put it off until now. Wishful thinking.
More space is offered but the students are slow to spread out, finding comfort in being packed together. The light is limited to intermittant flashing from the overhead lights when the power flickers, laptop that send pols of blue chill through the room, cell phones which are even less reliable, and comparatively warm light leaking through the window and hall door.
The siren has stopped, but the hollow buxxing of the wind has replaced it. At least the siren had an organized feel to it. Jokes begin bouncing around about how God is telliung us all to get the heck off this mountain and go home.
Another claims that the administration took away our reading day but God gave it back.
Somehow I don't find these all that funny. Neither does the woman sitting across from me. Poofs of steam come out her ears every time death is mentioned.
People have finally spread out along the hallway and shuffled into the rooms. Cool drafts shift about, shocking after the warm cramped mass of breath that had contorl a quarter of an hour ago.
Third time down:
Shifted to the floor with my math books sitting by my feet.
All intention of doing homework vanished when I heard someone reading Harry Potter aloud. I think it's better to listen mindlessly right now than let my brain wander about. Not enough of it is needed to do this math to make it a distraction.
Fourth time down:
Tried for dinner. Got right to the front of the line when everyone started scattering.
Someone got a text. "Go down again. Warning going to go off. Move."
Running back in the rain I thought I saw a system coming towards us...A dark streak in the clouds. Imaginations can be cruel.
It has become routine. Those of us who have paid attention are afraid of the next alarm going off. Twenty-ish people have died down the mountain. That was the last official word. Property is destroyed. Homes crushed. Glass shattered. People broken. Thinking of those who are mourning.
The rest are simply annoyed or happy for a day off.
Fifth time down:
Now with food in my stomach I'm feeling a little better.
Chicken, carrots, peas.
Normally we would be ticked off...Indignant. Now it's the nourishing food. Warm even. Many praises are sent towards the food staff.
That's when you know there's been a disaster. The college students are glorying in the food that they're given.
This time we're huddled in circles. Reading. Then praying. Then reading and praying in the back of our minds. It's becoming more real to more students. Solemn.
Today:
Sirens play a constant track under the birds who somehow are still here, living their lives as normal.
They don't need electricity and their food and water is laid out for them every day by God through the trees. I know God can do the same for us. Thinking how he gave me this patch of internet. No idea how long it will last but it's here for now.
No one thought it was this serious. Now, with an unofficial count of over three hundred dead, the air on campus is more compressed. Students are also wrapped up in their papers, trying to study for finals without power. The internet clicks on and off on a whim.
The second time down:
College students all smooshed togehter, murmering. Happiness for postponed deadlines and sorrow for the damage done.
S'more stuffs make the rounds as the most substancial food that could be grabbed on the way down the stairs. All the girls groan at the possability of using the men's bathrooms down here. A general feeling of holiday floats about but spread about there are pits of people huddled into themselves, terrified.
Even some of the most gregarious have comfort items grasped in their fingers. I never would have guessed that there were this many stuffed animals in the building.
People borrow phones to call their parents; they put it off until now. Wishful thinking.
More space is offered but the students are slow to spread out, finding comfort in being packed together. The light is limited to intermittant flashing from the overhead lights when the power flickers, laptop that send pols of blue chill through the room, cell phones which are even less reliable, and comparatively warm light leaking through the window and hall door.
The siren has stopped, but the hollow buxxing of the wind has replaced it. At least the siren had an organized feel to it. Jokes begin bouncing around about how God is telliung us all to get the heck off this mountain and go home.
Another claims that the administration took away our reading day but God gave it back.
Somehow I don't find these all that funny. Neither does the woman sitting across from me. Poofs of steam come out her ears every time death is mentioned.
People have finally spread out along the hallway and shuffled into the rooms. Cool drafts shift about, shocking after the warm cramped mass of breath that had contorl a quarter of an hour ago.
Third time down:
Shifted to the floor with my math books sitting by my feet.
All intention of doing homework vanished when I heard someone reading Harry Potter aloud. I think it's better to listen mindlessly right now than let my brain wander about. Not enough of it is needed to do this math to make it a distraction.
Fourth time down:
Tried for dinner. Got right to the front of the line when everyone started scattering.
Someone got a text. "Go down again. Warning going to go off. Move."
Running back in the rain I thought I saw a system coming towards us...A dark streak in the clouds. Imaginations can be cruel.
It has become routine. Those of us who have paid attention are afraid of the next alarm going off. Twenty-ish people have died down the mountain. That was the last official word. Property is destroyed. Homes crushed. Glass shattered. People broken. Thinking of those who are mourning.
The rest are simply annoyed or happy for a day off.
Fifth time down:
Now with food in my stomach I'm feeling a little better.
Chicken, carrots, peas.
Normally we would be ticked off...Indignant. Now it's the nourishing food. Warm even. Many praises are sent towards the food staff.
That's when you know there's been a disaster. The college students are glorying in the food that they're given.
This time we're huddled in circles. Reading. Then praying. Then reading and praying in the back of our minds. It's becoming more real to more students. Solemn.
Today:
Sirens play a constant track under the birds who somehow are still here, living their lives as normal.
They don't need electricity and their food and water is laid out for them every day by God through the trees. I know God can do the same for us. Thinking how he gave me this patch of internet. No idea how long it will last but it's here for now.
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