Downstairs

We were one of the first that arrived downstairs and it showed: Claudia in just her, rather summery, pyjama and in just my jeans, both barefoot. Not to mention the wide-eyed look on Claudia's face, like a deer caught in some lights. The people that came down after us came more prepared: in warm clothes and bringing blankets and bags. I decided that an after shock would not come in the first minutes after the first, so if I was to go back to our apartment I would better do it right away. There was one small problem, neither of us had brought a key...

I ran back up the stairs, bumping into people rounding the corners which provoked some typical Chilean curses send in my direction. I was already one flight up deciding that I would just kick the door in, if I would find it closed. But when I opened the door of the staircase I saw our door was wide open further down the hallway. And to my surprise the phone was ringing inside.

Inside the apartment it was total darkness and with haste I felt my way around towards the ringing. It was Claudia's sister, asking if we were alright. Out of breath I spat out some words indicating that we were okay and after she said she would try and call Claudia's parents we hung up. Using the light of my mobile phone that I found in my pants I put on some more clothes and shoes, threw some of Claudia's clothes in a blanket, grabbed her mobile phone and filled a bottle with water. This time I remembered to pick up the keys and closed the door and locked it. When I came back downstairs there were a lot more people hanging around, and I gave Claudia her clothes so she could get dressed.