Our Last Days

1:00 am

1:00 am

Frankfurt, Germany

€15000 + trust fund + credit cards

The world has always been simple and understanding in my mind. After many disasters, people would think they know what to do during one. I, for one, know that no matter how well they are prepared, they will panic and shut down at one moment or another if it's going to be right after, or when they see the chaos and everyone around them, desperate to save themselves.

My boyfriend of four years had taken me on a Europe trip. The simple London of England, Paris of France, Frankfurt and Berlin of Germany, Rome of Italy, and Athens of Greece. Amsterdam was an option if we had time as was the same with Spain and Portugal.

I was on edge by the thought that he would propose to me at one point during the trip, whether it would be in the City of Love or the gloomy London ferris wheel. But it wasn't until I caught him drunk in a bar in Frankfurt with a clearly not sober but hot girl who apparently came along with us in secret, all expenses paid courtesy of him. She had been with him for six months, according to the slurring loud mouth who couldn't keep his hands off her. We hadn't even finished the trip and he had the audacity to bring her too. My dreams of becoming his wife surely went down the drain along with the rest of our four year relationship.

So I locked him out of his hotel room which then became my hotel room and also kept any cash and credit cards left anywhere in the room, which was a large sum in amount. Lucky for me, he had left his card that was a part of his trust fund, which I will gladly use.

Tired of hearing him desperately convincing me into letting him in, I angrily grabbed my backpack and dumped all of its contents for them to be organized or trashed. Instantly, I stuffed my passport and all sources of money into the hidden pocket. I grabbed my travel makeup bag and a random black windbreaker, which I caught with my eye was Nike. Then, I snatched my lotion with a large SPF, sunglasses, female hygiene products, toiletries, and allergy medicine with a mini first aid kit and stuffed that into the bag. Moving on, I walked to the closet and snatched all the clothes on the hangers and stuffed them into my suitcase, quickly zipping it shut and smashing two lightweight shorts into the available space of my backpack. Grabbing my charger, portable, and my camera, I stuffed them into the small pocket and took four water bottles, which I stuffed into the side pockets of my backpack.

I walked to the balcony at the end of the room with the perfect view and tossed my suitcase over the railing, not wanting to encounter my now wailing ex-boyfriend at all. I took all his clothes and attempted to rip and tied a makeshift rope and threw it over. Tying the end onto the edge of the bed, I climbed over the railing and made my way down from the sixth floor.

I pulled out my phone, about to call my friend that I was coming home when the ground shook violently and I was instantly thrown onto the ground. The shaking had lasted for over 2 minutes which had really felt like years. The few people around me screamed and fell, cars swaying side to side. Once it had ended, I felt around with my hand for my phone and grabbed it once I felt it only to find that there was no signal whatsoever.

"Fuck you, you piece of shit!" I yelled angrily and almost threw it on the ground.

Shit, it could be useful later, I thought a split second later. So I shoved it into my backpack. Just in case.

Around me were people questioning what they had felt only to go back to what they had been originally doing. Some ignored it, some tried finding answers to their non ending questions.

A few feet away from me was my suitcase, on its side lying on the uneven stone pavement. Hastily, I snatched it and continued on my way.

How am I gonna get home? Should I book a flight? Or continue the trip?

I desperately wanted to visit Amsterdam and Vienna, Austria but now that nothing was holding me back, why not?

Some people around me were still confused. I walked up to one and asked, "Wo ist der nächste flughafen?" (Where is the nearest airport?)

"Ein paar meilen aus. Ruf ein taxi." (A few miles out. Call a taxi.)

"Mein telefon funktioniert nicht. Gibt es einen anderen Weg oder eine Karte, die ich verwenden kann?" (My phone does not work. Is there some other way or a map I can use?)

"Es gibt eine Tankstelle auf der Straße." (There is a gas station down the street.)

"Danke mein Herr." (Thank you sir.)

With all my belongings, I walked down the street, searching for the nearest apparent gas station.

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1:30 am

After twenty minutes of having trouble finding the gas station, I had finally managed to at least find one. The cashier there was very helpful and got me a map and also found me a bag of Hot Funyuns. Large to be exact. I could never live without it.

I was also very lucky he spoke English, because obviously, my German was a little rusty since high school was oh so long ago that I never wanted to remember and be a part of the drama again.

"Madame, do you know what happened?" The cashier asked.

"I'm sorry?" I turned around with a confused look.

"The earthquake. Do you know where it happened?"

"No, I'm sorry I do not."

"My shift ends in a couple minutes. I just need to wait for my coworker to come. I can drive you to the airport after. Is that alright with you madame?" The cashier said, locking up the register.

"Oh no I can take a cab. I don't want to inconvenience you."

"No worries. It will be my pleasure," He walked away from the counter and into the back. "Just wait here."

After his coworker came, the cashier changed his clothes and we had gone to his car, a simple usable compact car.

"I'm sorry it's small. What is your name madame?" He looked at me and gave me a friendly smile while on the road.

"Vienna. What's yours?" I asked.

"People call me Fitz."

"Well then hello Fitz, nice to meet you," I beamed sincerely.

"Hello, Vienna. Welcome to Frankfurt, Germany."

"So how is your English so good? You don't sound like a resident of Germany," I questioned.

"My mother sent me to English school down in Berlin. It is one of the best in Europe. And also, many tourists come to the gas station I work at anyway so my English improved to what Americans usually talk," Fitz explained.

"Interesting. So you're from here, yes?" I asked.

"No actually, I am from—"

"STOP!" I screamed.

There were many cars in front of us all stopped in a crazy commotion. Honking could be heard and many people got out of their cars to yell at one another.

"Oh shit. I guess we'll have to take a detour, Vienna."

So Fitz turned the car around and took a different route.