~ Silent Testimony ~
Author: Me, VixX
It was silent, like the sound you hear before the earthquake, though I'd never experience one, the thought was loud in my mind. It was a split second that seemed to last through eternity, like you're stuck on slow motion, frame by frame, with no escape, no stop button for you cannot stop, or pause the present.
I knew it would hit, I'm not sure why, but something inside me screamed an ear piercing and haunting cry for help. I saw it approach, from my 87th floor window, I knew then, I would die.
The sound of silence soon became distant as screams engulfed my world. I could smell it, fire billowing from the windows where my fellow workers had once sat, above me, I knew they were dead. Panic struck, terror followed. No escape, no way out.
I don't know time, I don't remember sequence, but I can see fright, I can smell the flames, crawling down the building with a pace never before known to me, reminding me we are nothing to control nature.
The smell was getting closer, people were running, but with little reward. Then I saw, a short man beside me, hair combed to one side, eyes stricken with sorrow. He was on his phone, crying as he spoke. I wondered then who he was speaking to, was he destined to leave behind so much more than me? My answer became clear as the words, "Goodbye, I love you" came from his mouth and echo in my mind.
The flames now had engulfed most of the floor, cutting off any escape, except for the window, which would only hasten our certain death. I wondered, who would I call? Who would miss me? like that short man beside me was certain someone would miss him. A tear sprung forth, and I said a prayer for those in this building with me, and for those left behind.
As my eyes remained closed, I prayed quickly for myself, I prayed not that I would be spared, because I had no right to ask god for such and act, but that I would die not in pain, but quickly, and without the screams of agony, thinking no more, I kept my eyes closed, told the invisible world around me I loved them, and fell quickly.
My footsteps were quick, I was late, late more than I should have been, but I couldn't help the smile that beamed on my face, I was engaged, my world was going to be wonderful. 8:45 I still had time, I wasn't that late. And as I rounded the corner I saw the building where I worked. I smiled contentedly. It was Tuesday morning, the 11 of September, but despite it been Tuesday I was glowing.
I stopped outside the glass doors and bent down quickly to adjust my shoes, thinking I must have caught a stone from the construction site further up the road.
Traffic was buzzing, families and tourist skidding along the streets, eyes drawn upward to the majestic skyline New York was known for. As my eyes drew upward to the beautiful sky I saw the instant collision. My heart stopped, my eyes grew wide, my first thought was to Samuel, my fiancée, he was up there, early as always, maybe not? Maybe he was late.
My head screamed, my eyes remained glued. Did what I see just happen? I blinked, once, twice, three times, but the vision didn't change. Flames and thick black smoke filled the air above. Even from so far below I heard screams, terrified people with no where to go, smoke enveloping them in its haunting darkness. I reached out, hoping by some act of mercy I could reach out and touch them.
Screams were coming from all around me as well. Terrified onlookers, unable to help, as I was unable to. Then I saw it, people jumping from the building desperate for any escape from the choking blackness. I wanted to catch them, but my hands were tied. I watched in horror, as people ran around me.
Then, it rung, my cell phone, hidden deep in my bag. I rummaged through and answered it quickly.
"Julia, its Sam"
His voice was rushed, hesitant, scared.
"Oh god, please tell me your not up there"
"I'm coming down, I love you, you know that right?"
I could almost picture the tears in his eyes.
"I know, I love you too"
"I'll see you soon"
"Promise?"
"I promise"
As police hurriedly directed me away, sirens screamed around me. I cried out for Sam, but I was pulled back, voices everywhere, but none his. I stood at a distance, my eyes fixated on the door where I prayed he would come out of.
It was then the second plane struck, devastating the ruined tower completely along with its twin. I screamed in horror as in a haunting slow motion I watch the buildings sandwich.
I had lost him. A wave of pain swept over me, and I knew he was gone.
The little boy chuckled as he flung the toy aeroplane around in the air in front of him. His mother smiled courteously as her hand joined with his. It was 8:00, and a full day of paperwork lay before her on her desk. She sighed softly to herself, another Tuesday, another day.
"Mommy" the small boy, with the golden locked hair spoke
"Yes dear?" Mommy replied, a kind tone in her voice
The voice the six year old would remember always.
"Can I get a new backpack? With a plane on it?" he grinned, showing a mouth full of growing baby teeth
"Mmm, after school, I promise" Mommy replied, a certainty in her voice, he would need one soon enough, today would be a good a time as any
She waved goodbye to him as he ran up the front stairs of the old style school. She nodded her presence to the teacher whose name she couldn't quite remember, then went on her way.
"Guess what?" the small boy said, his eyes open brightly as he spoke to another boy his age beside him "Mommy say's she's going to buy me a bag, with a plane on it" he chuckled, mainly to himself, his own joy brimming over in his expression.
Mommy made it to her desk, her overview of the city where she'd grown, splendid. She sighed softly, smiling down at the pictures that filled her desk, the same little boy with the golden hair.
A loud bang sounded through the city, and the classroom of active six year olds peered upwards to the sky, not understand what had just happened. News spread quickly, but the were hushed into the hall.
More sounds echoed through the city, sirens, banging, screaming. And the young boy with the golden hair, peered out on tiptoes out the window, to the world in front of him. He looked up at the giant buildings, and watched as they crashed to the ground. His little heart wondered back to a time Mommy had shown him the city. And he wondered, as the toy plane in his hand dropped onto the floor.
"Mommy?" he questioned, tears welling in his eyes as his little chest heaved up and down.
"Mommy?" he whispered again, this time his voice muffled by tears that sprung to his eyes because he knew he would get no new backpack, for he knew he'd lost his mommy.
Though I live far from where this happened, I know that what happened that early morning has effected everyone with a heart. Though there maybe nothing we can do to re-write history, and no way we can turn back the clock on this black day. We can give our thoughts, and our hearts, and if able, our hands, to those who need them now more than ever.
Nothing will bring back the sons, daughters, mothers, fathers, brothers, sisters, uncles, auntie's, cousins, best friends or work mates that people have lost, but with love maybe we can stop this from ever happening again, and with care we can make sure to remember those who were so cruelly taken away. This is my memorial to the ones lost, and to the ones left behind.
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