This is the start of my new story. After this it goes back months earlier and tells the whole story, but I wanted to see what people think of the beginning first. It's based on an actual earthquake that occurred on October 12, 1877 in Oregon. I couldn't find much information, but I think it was pretty big. Anyway, how do you like the beginning?

Friday, October 12, 1877 (around noon):

I wake up suddenly. My whole body aches. Something extremely heavy is on my legs. Warm liquid soaks my thighs and shins. It is dark and I cannot see. My throat is dry and swollen. Where am I? I’m thirsty.

“Ava!” my husband calls. “Ava!” His voice is distant, far away from me.

Something is poking my back. I push my hands against something hard and shift my body. A sharp pain grips my right leg.

“Ow!” I cry. I lower myself carefully to the ground. I squint my eyes and look down at my legs. I can make out the outline of something large and rectangular. A rafter? I scream.

“Ava!” my husband calls again. “Where are you?” He is closer.

“In the house.” I struggle to move out from under the rafter, but fall back to the ground in a surge of pain.

“Ava!” He is frantic.

Suddenly, a burst of light as he flings the door opens.

“Dear God, Ava!” He is at my side. My eyes are closed against the light, but I feel his warm hands surrounding my own. “Shhh! It’s alright, I’ll get help.” His hands linger in mine for a moment and then he is gone.

In less than a minute, I hear the horse galloping. I am alone. My head pounds and I struggle again, but accomplish nothing besides inflicting pain. And then I remember. The dishes dancing to the edge of the table and smashing to bits on the ground. The floor itself trembling. My horror as I dove for cover under the table. The baby wailing in the other room. The baby! My heart stops. Soon my whole body is shaking with sobs.

“Daniel, Daniel!” I scream, but I know he is too far away. I listen to the silence. Silence that shouldn’t exist. My baby should be crying. But she’s not. There is only silence.

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