The Fissure

Success at any cost was Aria’s mantra. To her, it was measured in dollars and cents alone. Relentlessly climbing the corporate ladder, her eyes glittered with the allure of wealth. Creativity meant little to her except to enhance her portfolio's profit margins and bottom lines. Her company adored her, for she brought in substantial revenue with her go-getter attitude and indefatigable spirit. None of her colleagues knew of the vibrant and colorful character she once possessed; she had buried that creativity along with her fountain pens and paintbrushes. Her love for colors had faded, replaced by a singular focus on green.

On October 17, 1989, just before she was to be ceremoniously feted for her achievements at work, Aria found herself pondering her worthiness. Would she secure that juicy promotion? Would hefty bonuses follow for her invaluable contributions to the company? She felt deserving, her hard work warranting more than just a plaque and encouraging words—these were mere icing on a rich cake.

It was then, through the office's glass doors, that she noticed a giant statue in the hallway sway. “Duck, cover, and hide,” someone shouted, and she immediately understood the imminent danger.

She sought refuge under a solid table as the earth shook like never before. The once dependable promise from the grounded earth felt like a betrayal. Though only seconds passed, they stretched into eternity in Aria's mind.

“Is this the beginning of the end?”

Life flashed before her eyes like a cinematic story. Time and space lost their meaning. In that moment, a fissure opened in her life, revealing the missed opportunities her decisions had wrought. Her career climb had made her successful but left her deeply unhappy and unfulfilled.

As the seismic movements continued, people screamed, objects fell, and chaos ensued. She watched the cabinet tip over, papers flying, remembering the mechanic's promise to brace it. The swaying chandelier and the rubble left by falling objects painfully highlighted the absence of true relationships, joy, and sense of self. She had ignored all this to climb higher and faster on the corporate ladder. Was it worth it?

After the earth ceased quaking, Aria and her colleagues quickly brainstormed exit plans, briefly enquiring about each other's well-being before worrying about their families. With darkness descending quickly, the lack of electricity and telephone service added to their desperation. The few with battery-operated radio headphones relayed grim news—fires, falling debris, injuries, and casualties, including the collapse of a section of the Bay Bridge.

Their anxiety intensified with their inability to communicate, reassure loved ones, and even know their families' safety. Aria had never felt so alone. No one thought of celebrating her hard work, and, to her surprise, neither did she. The accolades at work held no meaning when there was no one to go home to. No one cared about her award, and she realized she didn't either—it held no worth.

Feelings cycled from gratitude to survivor guilt, and amidst the turmoil, people like Aria questioned their future trajectory in a journey of self-discovery.

Aria's fear gave her the courage to change. No longer a prisoner to work affirmations, it was time to live life on her own terms, with meaning that money couldn't buy.

She dipped into her hefty savings to invest in art materials she once deemed superfluous. With each brushstroke, she added colors to her bland life, filling her pen with ink that streamed consciousness. As the world around her rebuilt from earthquake rubble, she penned her fate on life's blank pages.

Her journey began with a 180-degree turn. As Northern Californians rebuilt their lives, she, too, rose from the rubble. Surprisingly, Aria found her old handwritten journals filled with wishes, aspirations, and artwork—a map from the past to the future.

While her old job and hefty paycheck could buy much, they never offered the joy and fulfillment her new direction did. With passion, authenticity, and hope in her heart, she lived life on her own terms. Can one put a value on that?

The Loma Prieta Quake lasted around 15 seconds. Many who lived through it will never look at life and time the same way.