Clara rode home on her mossy green bike, pedaling fast past the towering buildings of Honshu, Japan. Her chocolate brown pigtails flew in the breeze, often brushing past her slightly tanned skin. Parking her bike, Clara took off her coat and hung it up next to her father’s black bowler hat and her mother’s bright red beret. As soon as she entered the cozy cottage in the outskirts of the city, that she called home, she heard the arrogant squabbling of her parents. Clara bolted towards her room, slamming the door behind her. This couldn’t continue. 

“Sniff. Sniff.”, came a sound from inside of the room. 

Clara looked up to see her little brother, William, curled up on his bed, crying. Clara rushed towards him and gave William a comforting hug, wrapping both of them in a cocoon of blankets.

”It’s going to be okay.” Cara whispered, squeezing William’s hand. 

When he didn’t look convinced Clara suggested that they make something for their parents. So the two siblings spent the whole afternoon making small gifts for their parents. By the end William had gone from worried to excited. That night, their parents slept alone, proof that their plan didn’t work. But that very night, Clara assured that they would find a way, even though doubt filled her mind. Clara fell asleep not long after, dreaming of a happy family.

Over the next few days, there were a lot of earthquakes, the ground was damp and Clara’s parents kept on fighting. It gave Clara’s heart a sinking feeling that made her want to hide under the cover forever. But she had to be strong for William. One day, Clara said Goodbye to her best friend, Millly and headed into her house. She was surprised to see her mother sitting on the kitchen bench, waiting for her. Clara’s mother led Clara into her room, where Clara’s mum pulled a purple velvet box from behind the shelf. 

“I want you to have this, to know that I will always be with you, no matter what happens.” Clara’s mother told her as lifted the plush, purple lid. Inside lay a heart shaped ruby pendant on a silver chain. Clara gasped. It was the most beautiful thing she had ever seen, and to think that her mother was letting her have it. Clara immediately put it on, feeling a flicker of hope start up inside her.

“Clara, wake up! We have to go!” Clara’s mum shouted frantically as she shook Clara awake with white knuckles. 

Clara jumped out of bed, utterly confused. Her mother handed her a heavy backpack and gave William the same.

“Get to higher ground, quick! Just keep going, we will find you!” she told Clara as she pushed the two siblings out the door, into the heavy rain.

With William tight in her hands, Clara ran over to Milly, who was looking desperately around. Before they had a chance to talk, a ginormous wave swept over them, pulling the whole city underneath. Clara’s hair came undone and streamed into her face, but she held onto William. Clara looked around for an exit. Only then, Clara noticed that Milly was plummeting down, lifeless. Clara reached for Milly’s limp body, but strong hands pulled Clara and William onto a crowded safety boat.

Clara burst into tears in the safety boat, not even realising that it had a pungent smell. Milly was gone! 

“Clara, are we going to be alright?” asked William, scared.

Clara assured him that they would be fine, even though she was afraid that they wouldn’t be. William fell asleep in Clara’s arms. Clara soon fell asleep too, feeling afraid about what would happen to them next. But she held on tight to her mother’s necklace as a reminder of home.

Clara awoke to hear people cheering loudly. As she wearily opened her heavy eyelids a blinding light stung them. After recovering from the shining light, Clara realized that their safety boat was approaching a shore full of waving people. Their small boat docked with a jolt, sending people pouring out. Clara took a deep breath and did the same, holding hands with  William. The two stood in the heavy crowd, looking around desperately for their parents. Then they were pushed and shoved as families reunited. But there was no sign of their parents. That night they were placed in an orphanage until  their parents showed up.

Clara and William stayed in the orphanage for days, with no sign of their parents. Things were starting to get hopeless. Then, one day a familiar bright red beret and black bowler hat emerged through the door.

“Mamma, Pappa!” cried Clara and William as they ran to hug their overjoyed parents.

Life didn’t automatically get amazing after that, but it got better. Their family got a new home in the great big Tokyo and went to a new school. Clara still mourned for Milly, but after what she had been through Clara felt like she could handle anything. And she would, for Millly.