Summary

In Chapter 49, Elena and Lila go through the earthquake together. As the apartment shakes and crumbles, Elena tries to get her hands on Lila to pull her out of the building. She seems to be relatively in control, while Lila is frozen with terror.

Chapter 50 continues to describe the earthquake. Elena manages to pull Lila outside, and the world around them is chaotic. Although the first and largest tremor had passed, the women still feel as if the world is shaking, and they can see the sea boiling, the cemetery upended, the sewer broken and spewing, and people clamoring and screaming. They manage to get to Elena’s car, but they have no keys so they sit in the car and wait for it to pass.

In Chapter 51, Elena is frightened but calm, while Lila cannot bring herself to believe that everything...