Beyond the Story

Race to the Finish

April 15 2013 was the day that it happened, it changed my life, My name is Samantha Wallis and this is my story.

My heart was pumping in my chest as I turned around the corner to face almost a 210 metre track that lead to my destination... the finish line. I moved my palm up to my forehead and wiped the excess sweat that was making it’s way to my nose and down to my upper lip. I ignored the pain in my stomach that was craving me to stop and sit down, I straightened my position and ran professionally as the cheers and chants filled my ears, the positive comments that persuaded me to carry on. As I made it nearly to the finish line my cheeks were rosy and my legs were beginning to feel like sticks. About 190 metres away from the ending line that’s when it happened.

The ground beneath me started to rumble and shake making me unstable, a ringing noise had now taken over my hearing giving me a headache. In a blink of an eye this massive wave of fire smacked me making me fly all the way to the ground coming in contact with the solid gravel that didn’t quite soften my landing in an instant it went dead silent I curled up into a ball to try block the objects that were getting thrown at me bits and pieces of the ground and buildings scraped against me but I only held on tighter.

After it was done I stumbled trying to get up, I opened my eyes took a while to adjust what was happening and then examined what was around me. Adults shaking uncontrollably with panic written all over their faces. Smoke rising to the air and deep red liquid on the cobblestone dripping from the wounded runners and the watchers.The screams and shouting from the horrified people as they found their family members. Ambulances and police with their fluoro highvise rushing to grab all the injured racers and spectators who were laying on the ground hurrying them to the hospital.

Something that caught my eye was my leg that had now got a big hole through the middle of it. I screamed in fright as I continued staring at my now demented leg that use to be whole. My hands shaking with every move I did. “Help” I screamed with panic in my voice waving my hand in the air to make it more noticeable. Out of the corner of my eye I saw a blurry figure running out to get me.

By Grace.