At 7 a.m., I was given forms to fill out for my discharge. I quickly completed them and took them to the nurses' station.

I don't want to be here longer than necessary.

The woman takes the forms from me, and she says. "Goodbye,"

I hurry out of the hospital, being careful of the doctors who seem to be rushing around.

There are still heaps of people in the hospital who were more injured than me.

As I leave the hospital, I see George next to a black SUV surrounded by a group of men. He turns towards the door, and a smile spreads across his face. He walks over. "I'm here to take you to your place to collect your things. Then please spend some time with my family before you leave. Darcey took a liking to you."

A smile spreads across my face. "I like Darcey too, sir. She's a great kid, and you've raised her right."

"Thank you," he says as he opens the door for me, and I climb in.

George moves to the other side of the car and climbs in, sitting across from me. "The house was higher up, so it wasn't damaged during the tsunami. A few teachers weren't as lucky as you. They lost their passports and other documents. So, they'll have to go to their consulate on the island to get a new one. It will take them a couple of weeks to get it. I'm afraid all the children won't have good teachers when they leave."

I touch his hand. "Other people out there will be interested in teaching the kids. I learnt a lot from the children while there and will miss them. Do you want to know why I took a job here?"

He nods.

"I couldn't go back home. A boy told me that if I stepped back into the town, he'd ruin my life. I was scared to return home. So, when I came across the opportunity to become an English teacher for the kids on this island, I took it, and I have not regretted it once."

"And now you want to return to where you grew up?"

I nod. "It's about time that I face my past. I want to move forward and enjoy the rest of my life. I don't want to live with regret, especially after what happened here.

As we drive down the dirt track, heaps of trees are on the ground. Power poles are on their sides, cars have mud, and some look like they went a few rounds with a truck.

George looks out the window. "A couple of days ago, the road was blocked by trees, power lines and cars. I gathered a group of people, and we cleared everything up." He turns towards me. "My wife and three other kids were safe in the house when the tsunami hit, and when I saw the rush of water from the balcony of my place, I thought my daughter would be dead. When things settled down, I went to all the hospitals to find her, but I couldn't find her. There was one hospital that I didn't try, and with a sinking feeling, I thought she was dead. Until I saw you on a stretcher with my daughter holding your hand."

George wipes his face as he remembers that day. "You know she didn't want to let you go. She had a few bruises here and there. Other than that, she was perfectly fine."

I don't know what to say, so I stay quiet.

Before I know it, the car comes to a stop in front of my building.

The guy I rent the place from is standing in the doorway. He looks at me as I approach. "Hey, Jaryd. How are you?"

A smile spreads across his face. "Better that you're here, sweetheart." He wraps his arm around me. "Do you know who that guy is?"

I nod. "I saved his daughter. That's who he is."

Jaryd drops his arm from around me. "Do you have the keys to your place?"

"No, I lost them when caught in the tsunami."

I don't have my handbag either. I wonder if it survived the tsunami.

Looking at George, I say. "Can we go to the school? I want to see if my handbag is still in one piece."

"Sure,"

I hurry up the stairs and pack my clothes into the suitcase.

It doesn't take me long to pack my stuff. I put my photos in my carry-on bag, and then I walk back down the stairs to where George is talking to Jaryd.

George looks up at the moment I exit the building. "Let me help you." He takes the heavy suitcase from me, and we walk to the car.

I climb into the car. "Bye, Jaryd." I wave at him as the car heads toward the school. "George, did the school get hit?"

He turns towards me. "I don't know. I never made it to the school. It looks like we'll see for ourselves in a moment."

The school wasn't too far from my place. It was down the road, and I walked there all the time.

There were heaps of people walking around the island, but right now, there is no one out and about.

Maybe many of them are tending to their wounds from the tsunami, or they're too scared to step foot outside.

It will take a while for people to live again, especially after the devastation that the tsunami left in its wake.

A few body bags are at the side of the road as we arrive at the school.

A cross is placed close to their bodies.

Looking at the school, I see that it's still standing, but you can see that the tsunami has reached the school as there's dried-up sand on the floor.

Moving forward, I walk towards my classroom. I see my desk next to the door that leads to the next classroom.

I unlock the drawer and find my handbag in there.

My purse is dry, and everything seems to be in good condition.

The water didn't rise as high here because it was slightly higher than at the beach.

We took a bush track behind the school to the beach.

It takes about thirty minutes to reach the beach from the school,

I wonder how the rest of the teachers are?

As I finished thinking, three teachers walked into my room.

One of them was the teacher who told me to leave George's child behind.

She walks over to me. "I'm glad you're alright." Looking at my bag, she asks. "Are you leaving?"

"Yes, I am."

***