## Chapter 3: Tragedy Strikes

The moonlit night had descended upon the small lighthouse, casting an eerie glow over the abandoned rooms. Esmeralda, now a young girl, wandered the empty halls, her bare feet making soft creaks on the wooden floor. Her father's despair had deepened, and he had become a shadow of his former self. The once vibrant home was now a hollow shell, filled with the echoes of memories. As she walked, Esmeralda stumbled upon her father's guitar, lying broken on the floor. She picked it up, running her fingers over the strings, remembering the melodies her mother used to sing. Tears welled up in her eyes as she strummed a few chords, but the sound was discordant and sorrowful. Suddenly, a loud crash of thunder boomed outside, and the lighthouse shook violently. Esmeralda lost her balance, tumbling to the ground. The world around her began to spin, and she felt herself being lifted off the floor. She tried to scream, but her voice was muffled by some unseen force. The next thing Esmeralda knew, she was lying on the rocky shore, her head throbbing with pain. She sat up, dazed and disoriented, and looked around. The lighthouse was in ruins, its tower lying in pieces on the ground. Her father's guitar was shattered nearby, its strings snapped and silent. Panic set in as Esmeralda scrambled to her feet, searching for her father. But he was nowhere to be found. She called out his name, but only the wind replied, whipping her long dark brown hair into a frenzy. The faded pink highlights in her hair seemed to glow in the moonlight, a stark contrast to the darkness that surrounded her. As the reality of her situation sunk in, Esmeralda stumbled and fell, her world crumbling around her. She had lost her mother, and now her father was gone too. The sea, once a source of comfort and wonder, seemed to be taking everything from her. The sound of the waves crashing against the shore was deafening, and Esmeralda felt herself being pulled towards the ocean. She tried to resist, but it was too late. The tide swept her away, and she was helpless to stop it. When the waves finally receded, Esmeralda found herself lying on a sandy beach, her body battered and bruised. But it was her mind that was most affected – she had lost her memory, and with it, her sense of identity. As she struggled to her feet, Esmeralda looked around, but everything seemed unfamiliar. She had no idea who she was, where she was, or what had happened to her. The only thing she knew was the sound of the sea, echoing in her mind like a haunting melody. The darkness closed in around her, and Esmeralda stumbled forward, into the unknown. She had no direction, no purpose, and no one to turn to. The sea, once a source of comfort, now seemed like a vast and unforgiving expanse, stretching out before her like an endless grave. As she walked, the moon dipped below the horizon, leaving Esmeralda alone in the darkness. She had no idea what the future held, but she knew she had to keep moving, no matter how difficult the journey seemed. The sound of the waves continued to echo in her mind, a constant reminder of the tragedy that had struck her life.