An entire mountain shifted, a new one arose

I was having an afternoon nap, and that's how the earthquake found me in bed. I was jolted awake: the wardrobe door was banging, the walls were shaking, and the whole building was wobbling. I found my frenzied girlfriend in the living room. Outside we could hear screaming and glass shattering.

Momentarily, I thought of diving out of the window, then remembered we're on the fifth floor and decided to take my chance down the stairs. We reached the willow tree in the middle of courtyard and stood there, transfixed, as the ground convulsed, the building swayed and rattled, and bits of concrete spewed out. I could smell dust. And as the ground juddered, for five minutes or more, the thought that I was going to die became more distinct.

Then it was over, and we ran outside the building to the swathe of greenery - a strip of lawns, flowerbeds, and weeping willows - that borders the riverfront where we live in Deyang. It was full of people, and the atmosphere was slightly festive, perhaps fueled by a mixture of adrenalin and relief.