I thought nothing of it at first. The ocean looked a little closer to our hotel than usual. That was all.
-- Narrator (Part 1)

Importance: Deraniyagala recalls how just a few minutes before the waves hit Sri Lanka, there was nothing out of the ordinary with the ocean besides the fact that the water appeared to be closer to the hotel than usual.

We had spent four days here, with my parents. In less than a week Steve, the boys, and I would be flying home to London.
-- Narrator (Part 1)

Importance: Even though Deraniyagala and her family had plans to go back to Colombo later that day and then fly back to London in less than a week, the tsunami had different plans for them. When Deraniyagala was thinking about this, she had no idea how much her life was about to change.

I didn’t stop for my parents. I didn’t stop to knock on...
-- Narrator (Part 1)