I was more worried about their safety and begged them to stay outside in a safe area, but they refused.

Their apartment was only a twenty-minute walk from mine.

When I bought this place, they insisted I stay close by, even paying for the apartment in full in the neighboring complex.

The once-quiet city was now filled with chaos and bright lights.

I started to wonder why I had married someone like Rob.

Rob was the youngest in his family, with three older sisters. They all lived in a cramped 50-square-meter apartment.

His sisters had dropped out of school to work and support him through college.

My parents said that marrying him would bring me nothing but misery.

I didn't believe them, because once, in the middle of a stormy night, Rob had gone out to find my lost dog.

I thought, "Anyone who loves animals this much has to be a good person."

It wasn't until later that I found out Rob had orchestrated the whole thing.

The tremors slowly subsided.

The building didn't collapse like I had feared.

Rob texted me, asking how I was.

After considering for a moment, I replied, [The earthquake seems to have stopped. I'm okay.]