The Calm and The Storm

Hurricane Silas, A storm already in the record books as one of the most powerful and dangerous storms to have ever happened, is going to hit my hometown tomorrow. I’ve done everything I can to prepare. Not too sure why I decided to ride this one out though, I know the dangers it’s going to bring. I know it’s not expected to weaken all that much before it makes landfall. But, it’s something I’ve always wanted to experience. A hurricane to this scale is a once in a lifetime opportunity.

Ever since I was 4 years old, I’ve loved everything to do with the weather. I remember getting excited for the big storms, My mom telling me to get back inside because I would always want to play in the rain. A thunderstorm, a small gust of wind, or even an entire hurricane, I couldn’t help but get excited for them. That love never wavered. It only grew from then on.

By the time I was 17, I finally decided to take studying weather seriously. I started looking at online computer data models to learn about the biometric pressures. Anything from troughs to ridges and the effect they have on the seasons. Cold fronts, warm fronts, low pressure systems, high pressure systems, blizzards, severe weather, heatwaves, freezing temperatures, and everything that goes into each and every one of those weather phenomenons. Putting them into use to make my own forecasts and enjoying every second of it. Even as I grew into an adult.

And now it’s time to experience something I’ve only dreamed of. Experiencing a Category 5 hurricane. I’ve prepared for this moment what feels like my whole life. I feel both excited and anxious about this. The adrenaline rush I feel comes and goes in waves. I can’t wait for it.

I do feel a little fear. Especially with my family already evacuated. They begged me to go with them. I ended up lying and saying that if everyone leaves then no one was going to be able to keep the water out of our home. Someone needed to stay home to ensure the house didn't get completely destroyed. In reality I just want to stay for the experience. I want to feel the pressure dropping by the hour. I want to hear the howling of the winds outside as they rise with every wind gust.

But for now, the calm before the storm. The one last night where the stars are visible. One last night to enjoy seeing the constellations. As much as storms fascinate me, knowing that other planets in the universe can experience a wide variety of weather. How each individual star has such an influence on a planet's weather. How hot it can become, how cold it can become, the tilt of a planet and how it could radically change the temperatures of the hemispheres. Space as a whole also intrigues me.

I’ve never felt so small when I look out into the galaxy. But, despite that feeling, I can’t help but have that same wonder like I do with the weather down here on earth. My home planet. I always wonder, with the amount of stars there are in the universe, adding all of the planets that could orbit around them. There’s gotta be life out there somewhere. I remember reading in a book once with it stating that the Earth isn’t even the best type of planet to have life on. It’s too small, too dry, and the star that the Earth orbits doesn’t last long enough to really sustain life for more than a few billion years.

I’ve always wondered what the perfect planet would look like. Luscious plant life, towering mountains, oceans bigger than Earth’s. Although an adult, I still hold that childlike wonder. When I look into the telescope to see the planets in our solar system.

I stopped writing in the journal. I stare at it wondering why I don’t always write down everything I wanna say. But, I guess it helps me know my purpose in life. I’ve been searching for that answer for so long I almost forgot about everything else going on. The impending hurricane, my family gone. ‘The calm before the storm’ is lonely, quiet, and depressing. I wonder these things to myself always wanting to know an answer that just isn’t there. I don’t understand why I’m putting myself in harm's way with this storm. I know I should’ve left with my parents. A part of me wanted to know.

The winds outside grow louder. A gust of wind makes a low howling noise. I look outside to the front yard. Trees swaying, streets wet from a passing rain shower, and a break in the clouds. I can see the stars for the final time before the storm hits. I stare out into the dark skies filled with little dots sprinkling the sky. Some brighter than others. The brighter ones I recognize as planets. Just above the horizon I can see clouds and just above them I can see the Jupiter and Venus congregation. The two brightest stars in our night sky, closer than they’ve ever been. I stare at them in awe of how two separate planets so far from each other can seem so close for Earth’s perspective.

Shortly after that the clouds move to obstruct the view of the planets. The wind blowing from the right. Another passing shower goes by to coat the ground with more water. “It’s going to be a long night,” I said with a bit of anxiety in my voice. As the rain began to get heavier so did the wind. Instead of an occasional sound of howling wind it turns into a constant low rumble,

As the storm’s center got closer the rain became a constant and the wind shook the house with every passing gust. Each gust is worse than the last. The sound of trees snapping outside, the low howl turns into a loud growl vibrating through the walls and windows which I had boarded up the day prior with my father. I could hear the wind more than my own thoughts. It kept getting louder and louder, the debris hitting the side of the house, a trickle of water coming from the front door and the door leading into the garage. I try to layer towels and random objects to block the water from coming in. It seems to have slowed it but not completely stop it. I hear a loud bang from above the house. Something either hit the roof or the roof itself tore away. The winds became so wild that the front door could easily be seen bending in place.

The winds suddenly start dying down. The house no longer shook. The trees, silent. I walk outside to inspect the damage done. I can see the sky again. No planets, just the stars in the night sky. And a ring of clouds surrounding in a stadium-like effect. You can barely make them out because of the moonglow. The eye of the hurricane. My eyes are glued to the scene before me. I couldn’t believe it. The eye of a Category 5 hurricane. But, I know this calmness wont last.

As the clouds begin to reclaim the sky the winds slowly build back up as I go back inside. The winds coming from the complete opposite direction. As the winds grew harsher and the low rumbling feeling returned but this time with more violence. Trees are no longer just snapping by their branches. Entire trees begin falling from their roots as the winds become worse than before. The deafening sound of window breaking, wood snapping, and something collapsing. Suddenly everything goes black and everything is silent.

I feel a faint warmth on my face. The air feels calm. I can hear trees swaying in a gentle breeze. I try to open my eyes. But, I can’t seem to fully open them yet. A blinding light forces me to keep them shut for the moment. ‘Is it daytime? Did my house collapse?’ I thought to myself.

Finally I open my eyes and see an unfamiliar sight. A forest in front of me. There were some trees back home but not this many. I look around to see nothing but more trees. I sat up from where I was. Looking up at a sky with a moon-like object barely glowing in what seems like a daytime sky. It looks so much closer than where the moon should be. I notice the clouds as well. They look normal enough. Small Altocumulus clouds break up a slightly deeper blue sky than I remember always seeing. I look back to what seems like a forest. Still not being able to fully grasp what I’m looking at. The trees are a deeper shade of green than I’ve ever seen. Every color seemed almost enhanced.

Lost and confused I stand up and look around some more. There is what seems to be a path nearby. Upon closer inspection, The path is a hardened gravel-like line that carves through the forest. I look both ways before stepping onto it. The gravel-like surface is firm and not loose like normal gravel roads would be. I stare in each direction confused as to where I am. I chose to walk in the direction of the sun and begin my journey down the path.