Hong Kong Young Writers Anthologies Fiction 2020complete | Page 390

Emptiness
Harrow International School Beijing, Hill, Nia - 12
I was only 10 when it all happened. We were a happy family until “it” happened. I have got used to the
loneliness but I was afraid, I was afraid of change there had been too much I just wanted everything to be the
same, old, boring life I had. But then one day like any other I was glaring out my window looking out onto the
cold frosty weather outside only I didn’t know if it was cold outside or in my heart. My mind was wondering
and hoping for life to be the same again. It was hard to emit that is was lonely, sad and hopeless, I had no friends
anymore because we had just moved and I was still adjusting to the new house and area. They said a change of
scenery would help. I didn’t. As I looked out there was a family passing by and I felt my heart sink and create a
deep dark hole. I knew I couldn’t change the past but I always blame what happened on myself. If only I could
do something, something to stop them from leaving me for “work”. I knew that that was not the reason they
left. I was many things as a kid and stupid was not one of them. But then I had a vision. They were there right
next to me. I was so confused they were right THERE! I didn’t know what to do with myself until she said
something that I heard so clearly that it seems like she was shouting in my ear, “I had to go with your farther to
save you. Honey, you are in danger. Don’t listen to anybody if they tell you to go to this new world it is not as
good as they say it is. Ok, I have to go”. I was so confused, I had so many questions. Where are you? Why did
you go? What happened?
I heard nothing from then again that day or that week or that month. “Please help us fund the amazing new
island for our beloved city Hong Kong,” said a voice on the T.V. I didn’t really care, I had already given up of
life and I knew this new “island” wouldn’t make anything but trouble. As I was walking to school that day there
was construction everywhere preparing for this new island. If there was one thing I didn’t need right now it was
worrying about a new island. At school, we had an assembly about the New World. As usual, I was at the last
chair on the last row of the hall. My teacher tried to convince me to join my class but I refused. I had always
listened to my parents and it didn’t matter that they were not here for me to continue listening, so no matter
what I did not like this home. But then something happened. As we were watching the video there were these
builders and they looked so familiar and I don’t mean like “oh I saw that guy on the news” familiar, no it was
like “I have met you before”. Then I saw who it was I could not handle the pain so I ran out of the room and
before I knew I was at home again crying my eyes out. Then I decided I needed a new beginning a fresh start. I
mean I had to be the right choice, it was not like I could go to that house or bare thinking that they would come
and try and find me. It was the next day now and there was a presentation on this new town so I went. The
speech was about who wanted to go and live in this “new town”. So I packed my bags and set off. You could see
the town in the distance it was beautiful! You could see the skyscrapers all different shapes and sizes, the cars
FLYING about the newly developed rail were station which the trains were whizzing by. This wad a good idea!
I felt new, smelled new, and looked new. We were on the boat on the way when… CRASH! There were
screams everywhere no one knew what it was… except me. There were these people scared from head to toe
with burns and bruises. They had eyes that went into your soul and stole it away. Hands of people who had
suffered. They were there too. In the fire. I didn’t know what to do until… Blackness, emptiness, loneliness
struck me. I could feel their heart. I could feel what they were feeling and feel it too. It was dark, pain, and
frustration. I was not in control of my legs they were walking towards the people and I felt it was right. They
needed to let go of the past, like me, they needed to understand that the past it the past and you can only look to