Sophie jolted awake, her heart pounding as the world seemed to tilt and roar around her. The ceiling creaked ominously, dust raining down in thin streams. She clung to her blanket, eyes wide, as the shaking grew fiercer.

Sophie scrambled from her bed, bare feet slipping on the polished wood floor. "Mom! Mia!" She called out, voice trembling as she darted towards the door. The hallway was a blur of swaying shadows and toppled picture frames, but all that mattered was finding her family.

Sophie fought back tears as she stumbled over debris, calling out again. The house groaned, but the shaking began to subside, leaving a heavy silence in its wake. She paused, listening desperately for any sign of her mother or sister.

"Sophie! Are you okay?""I'm fine. I thought you were trapped," Sophie whispered, relief flooding her as she ran into their arms. Mia's grip on her bear tightened, her eyes shining with unshed tears.

Mom knelt beside her daughters, brushing dust from their hair. "It's over now. We're safe," she assured them, voice steady despite the tremble in her hands. Sophie gazed at the chaos around them, her mind racing with what-ifs and lingering fear.

"Maybe moving to California wasn't such a good idea," Sophie murmured, voice soft and uncertain. Mom looked up, offering a gentle, reassuring smile, and Mia curled up beside her, anchoring her to the safety of family amidst the unpredictable world.