Hurricane.

Let's just say this was an English assignment gone rogue. Enjoy.

Marie Franklin. Kevin McGrown. Halle Severnisa. Dmitry Hanuszenko. Lucas Ramstone. Caroline Fontaine. Joseph Fontaine.

These are the names of seven of my neighbours. The names of seven close friends.

The seven people who died.

My name is Faith Orkan. I was seventeen when the Great Storm of 1987 hit the Southern coast of England. This is the story of how I survived.

And how my friends didn’t.

October 15th, 1987 (11:47)

I reach out to the mirror and gently touch the glass surface with my thin fingers. Once again, staying at home seems to be the better idea. I think about the many tests and boring lessons my friends will be sitting through right now, listening with less than interested expressions and otherwise occupied minds. I reach out for my phone as it vibrates and open the text from Caroline, my best friend. She tells me that Dmitry is looking at her from across the room and explains once again, in elaborate detail, that his deep blue eyes are the most beautiful thing she has ever seen.

I sigh and text back, telling her to meet me by the corner after school finishes, and to ask her brother to come as well. Joseph is almost nineteen, so he is eligible to drive us to wherever we wish.

Caroline and Joseph are of French descent, however they both seem to have more exotic tastes when it comes to their love lives. Dmitry is Ukrainian while Joseph is lusting over a new girl in our school. Her name is Halle, and later on in this story, she will save my life.

15:54

“He looked at me again today!”

“I’m sorry, what did you say?” I put a hand up to stop dust from getting into my eyes and notice there is dust flying everywhere.

“He looked at me today!” Caroline exclaims this, for the fifth time in less than ten minutes. I put up with her fascination – she has liked Dmitry ever since she saw him in pre-school.

“Course. Where’s Joseph?” I ask calmly, although I am really panicking. Joseph comes around the corner, however instead of his car keys, his hands are clutching something completely different.

Halle smiles at us and waves, as Joseph introduces her, his hands knotted between hers. I am polite and concise in my greeting. There is no need to be too familiar with this girl; Joseph has a knack for moving forward fast with his life, and in the process, usually leaves behind most of the people he meets. I pull Caroline away from them and suggest we walk down to the beach.

“Perhaps we’ll see Dmitry, I think he likes swimming,” I laugh inside, knowing he is the best swimmer in our school, “Caroline?”

She follows me absentmindedly. As we walk through the city I think of Kevin and what he is doing now. Probably out on the shooting range, killing himself a peasant for dinner. My stepfather is always hunting or tracking animals. He says it is his passion, but I believe he only enjoys the spill of blood and the smell of the forest.

“Wait Caroline, I have to call mum and tell her where I’ve gone, or she’ll get Kevin to GPS me! Caroline!” When she does not respond, I pull out my phone and start to dial when a newspaper flies into my chest. I throw it off and frown, looking at the trees and the way they are whipping at the air. There is a scent of salt in the air, a heavy acidic taste that momentarily makes me think I am already on the coast.

“Hurry up Faith! We’re going to miss him!”

I finish dialing and call; hearing the last words of parental caution I will ever dispute.

17:15

The wind is picking up now, the howl of the oceans in my ears. But I endure, trying to do the good thing and allow Caroline her brief few minutes of staring at Dmitry swimming in the already freezing sea. I see Mrs. Franklin down the beach, selling her infamous homemade ice-cream which melts to yoghurt and cream as soon as you touch it. She smiles at the little girl who walks up to her and asks for another one.

“Caroline, we have to go, my mum will be making dinner.” I shout to Caroline, but she does not listen. I look over at Dmitry and hope that he gathers the courage to ask her on a date soon. He likes her almost as much as she is in love with him, and only I am privy to this information.

My phone rings. “Mum? Yeah, I’m sorry, Caroline’s just having too much of a good time right now. I’ll be home in a bit. No. Yes. Okay, well you can try and make that but will Kev- Oh. Right. Why?” The phone cuts off as my mother starts to speak.

I curse and try to redial, but there is no signal. I glance up at the blackened sky and see dark clouds gathering – a sure sign of rain. I call again to Caroline and tell her to come to my house. “You go ahead, I’m going to stay and have a chat with…him.” She giggles and returns to sitting on the dark sand and watching her beloved.

I walk back towards the road and I see Lucas roll over towards me. His wheelchair is getting rusty, but he has no money for a new one, so moving is a huge effort for him. I walk over and offer to help, but he shakes his blonde head.

“I’m alright, I just wanted some fresh air, you know? Anyone interesting at the beach?” His smile is brighter than the Sun on a summer’s day, and I admire his perseverance.

I tell him Caroline and Dmitry are down by the beach and he says he has to ask Dmitry about an assignment for English. I tell him not to stay out too long, and point at the clouds – we both laugh at the note of fear in my voice at the thought of English rain.

I glance at his eyes and see they are bright once more.

05:35

“Hey! Faith! Over here!” Joseph’s voice calls me over as I am walking down the alley towards my home.

“She’s fallen and twisted her ankle, can you help me get her home?” He gestures towards Halle, who seems to be sobbing as she clutches at her disfigured ankle. I nod and help her up, supporting her on one side as Joseph holds her other. We limp down the road when Halle speaks, her voice like silk.

“I left my purse, down by the beach,” she curses and looks at Joseph pleadingly, “Please?” He nods and gives her a quick kiss on the cheek and nods a thank you in my direction. It has started to rain. I turn to see his favourite checkered shirt disappear into the storm.

19:19

I sit and listen as my mother scolds me for being so late back home. I try to explain, but she cuts me off each time I open my mouth. So I wait for her to finish so I can make my point. Out of breath and red-faced, she sits on the kitchen chair and stares at me reproachfully, waiting for my clever remark.

“I told you I’d be late. I was on my way home, but Halle twisted her ankle and Joseph asked me to take her home while he went to get the stuff she left by the beach. I’m sorry, it won’t happen again.”

“Kevin’s gone out lookin’ for you, down by the beach! I want you to call ‘im and tell ‘im where you are exactly.” She says this like some sort of punishment, but I dial Kevin’s number anyways.

“I’m at home. I know, I’m sorry. With who? Oh yes, I saw Mrs. Franklin there. She says what? No I never did- Okay. Okay, I’m sorry, but I never told her that. I’ll tell mum. Sure, okay, see you.” I close the phone and look at my mother’s raised eyebrows. I nod and turn towards the front door when I hear her voice from across the room.

“Oh my God. Faith, look at this,” she gestures to the television, “Look at that.”

I look at the news report and I hear the beginnings of Hell.

19:24

This just in, a tropical storm of massive proportions has struck the south English coast and is wrecking havoc and destruction across Cornwall. So far, we are receiving reports of many homes being destroyed and seven deaths caused by the gigantic tidal waves on the coast. The storm is heading towards Devon and is considered at the moment, to be travelling at a speed of 160km/h and increasing. Rescue teams are already on site attempting to evacuate all residents that may be in the path of the now probable hurricane. Meteorologists are advising that all residents in places such as Essex or Kent evacuate and leave the area due to the immediate danger. We’ll be right back with more information shortly and in the meantime we advise severe caution to all those in the vicinity of this tremendous storm. This was Jeremy Paxman for BBC, thank you for watching.

October 16th, 1987 (19:59)

The next few minutes pass in years.

I look at the reruns of the news report on the television in the cold office. I watch again and again as the colossal swirl of rain and thunder and wind crush everything I had come to accept as invincible.

The police officer shakes my hand and thanks me for my help. I think at how wrong he is. My mother is waiting for me in the car, so I make my way over to her again, my face blank and hers heartbroken. I stare out the window as we drive past, the black and white hues flashing across the dashboard.

I look at the ruins of Halle’s house as we drive past and think back to how unknowingly she gave me the next day of my life – one that she would never see.

I come back to the house. It is no longer my home.

Marie Franklin. Kevin McGrown. Halle Severnisa. Dmitry Hanuszenko. Lucas Ramstone. Caroline Fontaine. Joseph Fontaine.

My name is Faith Orkan. I was seventeen when the Great Storm of 1987 hit the Southern coast of England. Seven of my close friends and neighbours died so that I could live to tell this story. The story of how I survived.

And how no-one could save them.