August 24, AD 79

I woke up this morning to head off to work at the dock. It was a typical August day with the sun shining, birds singing, and warming weather. Everybody was out and about, recuperating and repairing damages from the recent earthquake. Who would have ever thought that an earthquake could be a sign of what was about to happen? Who would have ever thought that a beautiful day like this would lead to this? It started with a roaring blast and the terror did not end for many days to come. My house was located right at the bottom of Vesuvius and when I say, what I always thought was a mountain, blow its top; an unexplainable feeling ran through my veins. For many minutes to come I sat and and stared in amazement, in wonder, and in fear. Chaos broke out everywhere, people running around, screaming, and trying to escape with some of their valuables. I ran to my house, grabbed my family and headed in the opposite direction. The rest of the day consisted of running away from the exploding volcano.

August 25, AD 79

The smoke bursting from the volcano soon began to fall to the ground in an ash form and made being outside entirely impossible. Since we could no longer move on and try to escape the volcano. We searched and finally found an abandoned shop where we chose to stay. We watched as people ran by trying to escape, but instead we watched more people dropping dead in the streets, engulfed in the ashes. It was as if it was snowing ashes outside as it piled up foot by foot. Luckily, the store we stayed in had plenty of food that we could supply ourselves with. We spent most of the day with fear in our minds and trying to entertain ourselves with past stories to help us forget. Sleep at night with all of the chaos and noise was tough, so as I was checking out the store, late at night, I found this stationary and pen with which I am writing on.

August 26, AD 79

We got visitors today! I woke up this morning with pencil in hand and head on paper, and with a new family that had recently joined us. There were two children and two parents who were sleeping on the other end of the store, and must have entered sometime during the night. They looked so wore out that we let them sleep throughout the whole day. That evening when they awoke we had food set out instantly to replenish them. Two days of running from house to house, the family was exhausted and begged them to stick the rest of the disaster out in the store. They finally agreed and told of their incredible journey in which they had endured to get this far. Ashes continued to pile up outside and we began to think that it was never going to end.

August 27, AD 79

The sun has peaked through the ashes!! We can finally see the light at the end of the tunnel. The ashes have appeared to stop falling and the volcano seems to have spilled the last of its insides. I attempt to step outside, but the smoke within the air is still too much to bear. Maybe within a few days we will be able to leave this seclusion. We are all hoping for some rain that helps to settle the ashes. A few more days and we will be able to see the damage and destruction and work towards moving forward with our lives.