Lives Forever Changed

Lives Forever Changed1

Yesterday the sun was shining bright.2

I walked down the street, passing people by,3

Not even bothering to stop and say hi.4

I went to work, another day of the old grind.5

I couldn’t wait to put the work away6

And put the day behind7

Work now finished I hit the streets again.8

It felt good to step onto the concrete.9

It felt good to put distance between10

Me and those grand towers,11

If only for a few hours.12

On the way to the subway13

My cell phone rang.14

As I walked hurriedly to catch the train,15

I spoke to a friend.16

We made plans to meet17

At our favorite diner18

Near the World Trade Center19

Finally on the train, I found a seat,20

In the furthest corner, way in the back.21

I passed people by I’d see every day22

A sea of faces, I know not their names.23

I sat down in my seat with a sigh of relief;24

A reprise, although it’s but brief.25

Tomorrow will be here soon enough,26

Until then I’m going to clear my mind,27

And stop thinking of work and those towers I left behind.28

Today I woke late and skipped breakfast, no time.29

Coffee and donuts is all I’ll have to eat,30

Before I head out to the street.31

A cab will be my mode of transportation today.32

Crowded sidewalks would only slow me down33

In my rush to get through town.34

As luck would have it, traffic is jammed35

So, with my cell phone in hand,36

I call my boss to let him know I’d be there soon,37

He sounded like Jackie Gleason,38

Ready to send me to the moon.39

I’m finally here, just a few more steps away;40

The inviting automatic door opens wide41

To allow me entrance inside.42

But, before I could take another step43

I heard a deafening noise.44

An earth crumbling,45

Thunder booming,46

Glass shattering blast47

I swiftly moved back48

As did others I knew not.49

What we looked upon was oh, so awful50

One of those mighty towers was on fire.51

Stunned, all we could do was stare.52

Then, all hell broke loose.53

We all scrambled away54

My throat, it felt55

As though, it was tied by a noose.56

“What happened,” I screamed57

When I found my voice.58

No one answered, no one could speak,59

But within minutes that were few,60

I understood.61

For, as I stood watching in horror62

A plane came into view,63

And with lightening speed,64

The second tower was aflame.65

How could this be?66

This was insanity.67

I stood transfixed, frozen with fear,68

Staring blankly as those that were near;69

Then the shrill of sirens began to blare.70

Police and rescuers moved forward,71

Even as they ordered us back,72

Reminding us to beware.73

I began to run with the crowd74

Then, stopped dead in my tracks75

And turned around.76

As those grand towers began to crumble77

Floor by floor78

I looked up in horror.79

It only got worse, watching from the ground,80

For now, from the windows up above,81

People were jumping earthbound.82

Dust and smoke filled the air83

There was nothing left standing of the pair.84

I ran with people I did not know.85

Not one of us knowing where to go;86

Out of the mass confusion and turmoil,87

My senses heightened,88

I heard a cry, not loud or intense,89

No more than a mere whisper;90

I looked to my right,91

There I saw92

A girl crouched down in horrible fright.93

I stopped to help her.94

Although I myself was burdened with worry95

I told her, “Please we must hurry.”96

I pulled her with me, although I knew her not.97

I kept moving, all the while holding her hand tightly.98

As we ran, she sobbed silently.99

I just kept telling her: we can, we can…100

Not once looking back to where we’d been.101

Finally a safe distance away,102

I stopped and held her tight;103

As she cried the tears I could not shed.104

Then, when I thought those tears would never end;105

She looked at me, as if I were her new best friend.106

I knew her face, though not her name;107

She’d sat in front of me on the train.108

Last night she was a familiar stranger, I’d seen but never met.109

Now, I had become her safety net.110

While chaos was happening all around,111

Neither of us spoke, we just held each other near.112

Trying to dispel some of the horrifying fear,113

My thoughts turned to twelve hours before,114

To when we’d been on the train,115

Not knowing each other’s name.116

Now as we stood together117

We knew things would never be the same.118

We knew our lives had been forever, changed…119