Fan Fiction
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September Mo(u)rn
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Pushing the door to the stairs open, Bette was grateful for the emergency lighting. She didn’t have long to appreciate it as bodies started to pass by, she stepped aside to avoid being pushed. She heard a small cry of pain as an older woman was slammed into the doorframe. Bette pulled her to one side so she wouldn’t be trampled. Making sure she was OK, Bette waited for a pause in the traffic before escorting the woman to the stairs. She kept herself close behind and gripping the handrail tightly, trying to ensure neither of them were inadvertantly crushed in the attempt to escape. They maintained a steady pace descending through the floors. She lost count of them by the time they encountered a security guard accompanied by a bellman. The bellman offered to assist the older woman from there. She turned to Bette and said, "Thank you, my dear. You’ve done more than enough. I think I’ll be alright. Take care of yourself." She gave Bette a quick kiss on the cheek and waved her on. Bette gave the woman’s hands a squeeze in farewell and resumed her descent, more rapidly now when traffic allowed. She was glad she’d forgone her usual Choo’s in favor of some Warren Edwards’ flats, knowing in New York it was necessary to walk.
Reaching the lobby level, the hotel staff directed her away from the front entrance and towards the side service entrance, slightly safer as it didn’t directly face the Trade Center. Bette tried to orient herself as people and paper swirled around her. She’d succeeded in getting out of the building, now what to do? She pulled her cellphone from her pocket only to find it useless, no signal. She remembered her reason for being in town in the first place, her meeting later that afternoon at Peggy’s brownstone. East 75th just off 5th Avenue. North. Away. Setting her feet in motion, Bette worked her way through the warren of crowded, old downtown streets.
She glanced over her shoulder from time to time as she went to look at the burning tower. Papers still came fluttering down around her. So bizarre, falling like snow on this warm and cloudless day. In time though, she came to understand that it wasn’t just paper falling. Oh God! My God! They’re people, those are people falling from the sky. They were leaping to escape the flames they could no longer tolerate, all hope of rescue gone. She said a prayer for those falling bodies and (she hoped) their rising souls, not sure it would do any good. Could a benevolent God allow such monstrosity to occur? Knowing there was nothing more she could do for them, Bette set forth once again, the crowd having josltled her back into her own situation. She tried not to think about them.
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OK, I’m not sure what to say… but very intense… it’s almost like you were telling your own story through Bette?
made me cry thinking of that day. Thanks for the story.
so brilliantly written. it brought us straight to the grim reality on the ground. thank you.
Funnyone…I respect this tribute of sort to what occurred on that dreadful day. That was a day that will always live in my mind, heart, and soul. I’m from NYC and have lots of family & friends there. On that day, I lost family & friends…it was truly a measure of human endurance;however, humanity served this spoil a drink of greater service. We came together, we chose to rise above it, and we learned to survive with such a devastion. Our hearts are filled with many emotions, but the first was love. Thank you Funnyone…I respectfully thank you for the journey. It was dark but in the end of every journey the lights is bright, warm, and welcoming.
I’m still trying to catch my breath. I felt like I was right there with Bette. Thank you for writing it and sharing.
i also live in New York… enough said… what a terrible day… please continue with your story…
All I can say is…Thank You.
Thank you for the kind comments, ladies. Just FYI: I’m very, very glad to say that not in the middle of the nightmare. The towers were already down by the time I woke up that day and opened the shades on my skyline view from Woodside, Queens. Much smaller nightmare for me.
wow, it evoked so much memories of that day…and i read that JB actually was in NY then and was supposed to go to twin towers…thank you for this story
Very affecting.
Wow, this was a very intense story. Thank you.
This is not just a story, the event is fact, and it is one that we should never forget. I tend to agree with those that believe if given enough time and absence we as humans stop remembering that which we should not. If anyone remembers history has always proven that people forget, or push the bad memories aside thus allowing another individual or party to attempt the same at another time. I live on the west coast and have never forgotten how I was woken up that morning, or the concern that being so close to S.F. I could not send work crews there as we were unsure of what would happen . Thank you for the story, and the reminder of what is important.
Thank You.
Thank you – that was a beautiful tribute to a dreadful and dark day i our history. It brought tears to my eyes…..
I live in the UK but visited Ground Zero last year on a visit to NY, it was a very emotional place to be, you have brought a vivid description of the serene memory I have of the place. Thank you.
I will always remember where I was and what I was doing that day. As a nation, and as a world I think that we all came together. Now that this type of horror continues to happen in other countries, I hope that we can remain as compassionate to them. I hope that one day these type of acts will stop.
You maded us feel like we were part of the masses. When you think about it it still hurts thanks so much.
you know i’ve been PC less for a while so this is very late comment. i am proud to call you a friend funnyone – that just conveyed so much of what was a terrible day. i don’t believe anyone is totally evil but to do this with glee sure tests that belief. in england we had a minor taste of 11/9 last year with what happened in London. the only thing that conquers evil is not more evil but love and comprehension.peace
i felt every step of the way with bette with this one, not your usual but heart wrenching
sad day in history, never forgotten