Hong Kong Young Writers Anthologies Fiction 2020complete | Page 106

“An earthquake,” the driver said, paling.
He tried to speed up--but was stopped by a train of cars in front. Worried, Mia twisted her thumbs
together as she felt the ground shaking a few miles away. After a moment, the driver stabbed at his phone,
dialing a helicopter to rescue them. It came in a rush. It was their saviour! The driver was hoisted up first,
than Mia. She pulled on the door handle, but was horrified when the door didn’t open. She started
pounding on it urgently, then finally resorted to blasting open the window and crawled out. Thanks to her
thin body, she was able to do so, though her hair snagged onto some part inside the car and wouldn’t budge
when she tugged. The whirling helicopter was impatient; someone reached down, took out a thin blade,
and cut off the ends of her braid in a swift movement. Then they immediately pulled her up, and off they
flew.
Mia got home and ran straight to her spacey, yet unfurnished room (she and her parents had moved
here two days before) after a long shower. Mia ran a hand through her wet hair, amazed when it ended at
her shoulders. When she stared at the mirror, a girl with a narrow face, sharp features and skinny frame
appeared. Rolling her shoulders, she flopped onto her bed and slept.