Catastrophe - Chapter 1

Portia's POV

I smiled at satisfaction looking at all of the preparation I had made for me and my wife's dinner tonight at home. 

I insisted upon cooking for the dinner despite Ellen who wanted to try the new seafood restaurant that had just opened in the city. I wanted tonight to be just us, in our own home, well, with our cute pets, for sure.

I heard Ellen's car entering the large garage so I quickly lit up the candles before making sure that everything was already in its place. I nodded to myself and walked to the front door right at the moment Ellen opened it. 

"Baby, I'm home!" she yelled. 

"Gosh, Ed. My hearings are still working, you don't have to yell that loud," I laughed as she finally saw me and smiled. 

I loved her smile. I loved the warmth that she brought with it. Wasn't it weird that somebody can make you feel so happy, safe, and content within a flash of a smile? Because that's what I felt. 

I didn't want to live in a world where I can't see Ellen's smile.

"Oops. I thought you were back at the kitchen since you said you'd cook the dinner," she said as she pecked my lips. 

"Well, I'm here, but I did cook for us! Come on. You can change your clothes later. You're late 15 minutes and the foods are getting cold," I said while practically dragging her to the dining room. 

"Whoa..," she mumbled as she saw the dinning room. 

"You....... are the best," she said with a mesmerized look in her face. 

I couldn't say that I wasn't delighted to get her stunned about what I had done. 

"Of course I am," I said confidently and she rolled her eyes jokingly. 

"I take my words back," she said. 

I punched her shoulder softly and pouted. 

"Ouch. That hurts, woman. Be careful. You don't wanna hurt me," she said while grabbing my waist. I looked her in the eyes and almost drowned in the depth of it. I loved how I only saw love when I looked at those beautiful blue eyes.

I didn't want to live in a world where I can't look at those loving eyes.

"Mhm... Really?" I asked her teasingly, placing both of my arms on her shoulders. 

"Yep. 'Cause if you did, then I won't be able to do this," Ellen hummed before her lips were on mine. 

I smiled a little and kissed her back. Our lips moved in harmony.

And that slow, innocent kiss quickly turned to a hot make-out session. 

Ellen's tongue started to explore the tip of my under lip, asking for a permission to do more. I soon granted it by opening my mouth and our tongues collided. 

My hands were on her hair, turning it into a mess. Her hands moved from my waist to my back, and my chest. 

She sucked my lips and I practically moaned into her mouth. I could feel her lips forming a victorious smile. 

I didn't mind it at all, though.

Her hand wandered my back and brought up to cup my face. I opened my mouth more, deepening the kiss. I could never get enough of kissing my wife. 

I didn't want to live in a world where I can't kiss her soft lips. 

"Ed, baby...." I hummed while she kissed my neck. I tilted my head to the other side to gave her better access. 

It took around 10 seconds for her to hummed something back in response. 

She moved her hands to my hips and snaking it underneath my t-shirt. I knew exactly where this is leading to. 

I warded off her hands jokingly and took a step back while catching some breaths. 

She looked a bit surprised and hurt. 

"What is it? What did I do wrong?" she immediately asked me with a disappointed look. 

"Nothing, babe. That was an amazing make-out session, but I also cooked us an amazing dinner to eat, remember?" I laughed while walking to the kitchen counter. 

She snorted. "Right...." 

"Come here, quick. I need help to get these to the table," I motioned my hand to the big bowl and plates.

"Why can't I just eat you out for dinner?" she grunted quietly, but loud enough for me to hear. 

"Ooh.. Kinky wife. You can have me later for dessert," I winked at her teasingly and laughed when I saw her face lit back up. 

"Well, let's finish this one as quick as possible, then!" she said eagerly, putting the plates down on the table.

We sat down across one another, separated by our dinner. 

I stuck out my hand to reach for the perfectly boiled red bean soup when I felt something weird. I felt dizzy. 

I looked at Ellen's face and I saw the same confusion on her face. 

"Portia?" she said, holding my hand. "What's happening?" 

"I don't-" I said before I looked down to the soup that was now strongly shaking in the large bowl. 

I immediately knew what that was. It was something I had never experienced before and I was frightened to death. 

Ellen looked at the bowl of soup too and I could see that she too understood what's happening. 

"Earthquake!" we yelled together before frantically standing up, not sure of what to do. We never thought that there would be such thing in California, of course. 

I tried to remember the lessons I got on any books or tv shows or commercials or anything useful, of the things to do when there's a natural disaster happening and you're in a building. 

"Baby, we need to get out of the house right now!" I did my best not to freak out and to find a solution instead.

Ellen quickly nodded and we were almost practically running, despite of how tricky that was when the land that you were stepping on was strongly shaking and unstable

Our pets were nowhere to be seen and I hoped with all of my heart that they're somewhere safe.

I could hear some of our stuffs fell down to the floor; broke, torn, cracked, but I didn't care anymore. 

I just wanted to get out of the house and be in an open field where there was nothing that could just fall from up above us and crush us in a split second. 

Right after I thought of that, I heard Ellen screamed my name, then I felt like I was being pushed right to the front door. 

Then something fell down behind me. 

Something big and shiny. 

Then that thing shattered into pieces. 

And then I got up, ready to run out of the house when I realized there was something missing. 

Someone.

"ELLEN!!" I screamed in panic. 

I turned my body and saw my wife lying lifeless on the ground.