A month later, Zhou attended the opening ceremony of the Paralympics and was among the third group of students celebrated by the Ministry of Education for their courage during the earthquake. Several days later, Zhou was back in Sichuan attending school.
Of the school structure itself, nothing remained but scattered ruins. About half of its 473 students had died; 27 of the 47 teachers never again saw the light of day. Only a flagpole, from which the national flag fluttered in silent tribute to the dead, remained standing.
Zhou and her mother Yu do not know precisely where Zhou Lunju was buried. Each year they attend a mass grave outside the 5.12 Wenchuan Earthquake Epicenter Yingxiu Memorial. Many of the victims are buried there, commemorated by an immense stone on which are inscribed the names of the victims.
Falling silent, Zhou and her mother paused to remember a father and husband, and Zhou’s teacher Zhang.
Zhou’s memories of her teacher are fond ones. She still remembers the warmth of his smile. Zhang was “very nice to every student, like a brother”. She recalled going to Zhang’s home and playing video games with his son.
Zhou said it was only natural that he would have stayed and done his best for his students. The idea that he might have fled for his own safety was unthinkable.
