I had two weeks to adjust to what college life was suppose to be before class actually started. I got to take part of a service orientation, working in soup kitchens and homeless shelters in Washington, D.C. It was really a rewarding experience. I was happy. I talked to my parents every night for at least an hour, telling them about my new adventures and such.
The Saturday before school started, my parents seemed a little strange when I talked to them. Some of my best friends called me during the day and told me about the storm coming. I brushed it off. This wasn't the first storm of the year, and being outside the city, I didn't see the media hype being built around it. All my friends told me of their plans of leaving the city. I got a little worried so I called my parents back.
"Hell no, we ain't leaving!", my daddy can be a little ratchet.
"Well, what category is it?", I asked.
"5." My mother said it so calmly. I flipped my shit. I ran through all the questions. Why aren't you leaving ? What have you done to prepare to stay ? What if you really have to leave the city ? They answered my questions as calmly as ever. They seemed to have all their ducks in a row. They assured me that if anything happened they would be coming straight to me in Ohio. I trusted their decisions and talked to them as much as I could for the next few day.
Monday morning. First day of class. I've already talked to my parents, and they've assured me of their safety and wished me a great first day. I got about my day, longest day ever and return to my room after class. I try to call my parents, no response. A few minutes later, they called me back. Told me the power was out. Light street flooding. They ask about my first day, and I tell them. Somewhere in the middle of my story, the phone cuts out. I try and try to recall them. The phone lines are all busy. As I watch the Ohio trees pass me by, I realize that is when the phone lines died. Could no longer call 504 numbers from a 504 number. That explains why my uncle, who lives in California, called me the next morning and let me know that my parents had to leave the house because the water came back up. Which to this day, I do not understand.
The days that followed, I found myself glued to the tv. The news stations, which I never watch, hoping to catch a glimpse of my parents. All I'd do is watch tv and cry. I haven't heard from them since the day the phones lines died, and while my aunt told me to keep my head up and pray and know they are okay, I just couldn't manage to do that. I had good reason too.
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