From Pompeii to the Titanic, the World Tragedies that Impacted My Life
Stories on how I survived and found safety
I heard a rumble from afar.
I put down my bowl and listened to the eerie silence that followed. Suddenly, a tremble shook the table and sent my bowl toddling over the edge and shattering into pieces.
My mother grabbed me, and we dashed into the streets.
I looked up to see a dark cloud of ash racing towards us, releasing tiny gray flakes that fell onto my skin and clothes. The sounds of buildings collapsing and the cries of terrified people numbed my ability to comprehend what was happening.
My mother and I continued to run as the mountain behind us breathed fire, spitting glowing rocks into the air.
This was Pompeii on August 24, 79 AD, and I was witnessing the eruption of Mount Vesuvius.
We stumbled over debris as the ground continued to shake.
The sky grew darker until it enveloped the entire landscape.
From beneath my blanket, I watched as the world I once knew become buried under a sheet of ash and pumice. I hurled myself into a ball and crashed into a wall as I tried to dodge from more falling debris. I felt someone suddenly grip my arm and pull me…
