A Tragedy by Erica M. (books to read for self improvement TXT) 📖

The date is Tuesday September 11, 2001 and my name is Drew Kilmore. I am a lawyer who works in the Twin Towers. One of the most beautiful buildings I have ever seen. I had to wake up today at 6:00 am for a meeting. My boss today is finding people who need laywers for us to work for. The sky was clear, a couple little white puffy clouds floated near by. Birds chirping, people talking and car horns are going off. I sit down at my desk to do some work someone had asked me to do. When I finally get my work done I look up at the clock. 7:56 am already. I decide its time for a coffee break. I go out to the lounge area and drink a couple cups of coffee and chat with some of the other workers. Next thing I know my boss is calling for me again to do something. He said he had an important thing to do and he wanted me to wait in his office in case if anyone showed up or called him. 30 minutes pass and no phone ringing, or knocks at his door. Chad, my boss, finally came back from what he had to do. He said he had a meeting to attend. So with that, I returned back to my office to finish my work. It can be quite stressful sometimes having to be a lawyer. It felt like forever since I last looked at the clock, but I was wrong. It was only 8:17am. I can't wait to leave here at 4:30 and go watch my 7 year old daughter play her soccer game today. Ugh, I've gotta get back on track...now. I have nothing else to do though, I'm gonna go see what's up with my boss. See if he needs any help. It's 8:23 and I make my way down to Chad's office. which is on the 72nd floor. My office is just one below. With 110 levels, that's a lot. Considering I'm terrified of heights. Level 5 gets me worked up. I walk through the big glass doors of my boss's office. So clean and spacious. I helped him sort through some files and put them away in his ginormous filing cabinet. It's 8:43 by the time we are done, I take a look outide through the clean, clear window. I get chills down my spine when I look down at the big, see of people walking the sidewalks. 8:46am. Everything seems calmer. Much, much calmer. Cars stopped in the streets, people stopped in their tracks. At this point I'm wondering what is going on. The clock strucks 8:47am. All of a sudden, I feel uneasy..and the building shakes. I hear a loud noise like almost a bomb was just set off. I was so scared. I fall to the floor, as well as everything in the office on shelves and my boss does as well. I hear cries and screams of terror. I don't know what is going on. I rush to my boss and help him up, I frantically run to the window. Where I am greeted by a cloud of grey. Fire. Glass. I look to the South Tower, I notice an airplane that doesn't seem to be turning out of direction of the tower.

I couldn't believe my eyes. The plane, had gone right through the second tower. It is 9:02am. I scared shitless. Once again, I feel and hear the same thing that I did at 8:47. This time, it's much worse. I see people jumping out of the building. I was in disbelief of what was taking place right now. That's when I realize I need to get out of here. I run for it. Straight to the elevator. But, police are blocking them off, saying we have to use the stairs for safety. So I run to the stairs. They are jam-packed. People shoving, pushing, screaming, fighting, falling...I don"t know what to do. I decide to call my house in case if I don't make it out. No answer, straight to answering machine. So I leave a message.
"Um, hi there. I'm sure you have heard the news by now, and I just wanted to say Leah, daddy loves you very much. Stay strong and be whoever you want to be in life. I will always be by your side through every step of the way. On your wedding day, the day you give birth, and when you are sick. I will always be there. I love you so much. Jen, honey. I'm so sorry. I wish I didn't have to leave you like this. I love you more than anything in this world. I will be there for, always. Also, happy early anniversary and many more. Don't worry about me, I will be just fine. And go ahead and see other people. I love...."
My call was lost..I am not ready to go. I hope I will make it out a-okay.

Options were running through my head. I did not know what to do. It has taken 7 minutes just to get to floor 71 from 72. At this rate, I know I won't make it. Debris what flying everywhere, another plane hit our building, everyone screamed and we all jerked and fell. The heat was unbearable. It was hell. I stood in front of a busted window, deciding what I should do. If I should jump. Or make my way slowly down to the ground. I decide to go down a couple more floors, then jump for it. I make my way down to the 67th floor, it is 9:48am. I stand there for a couple minutes making sure this is what I want to do. I hear a loud commosion, big puff of smoke and fire fill the surrounding area. The South Tower has just collapsed. It is 9:50. I feel tears run down my face. Why? Why me? Why us? What did we do? I am utterly confused and disturbed at the things that are going on right now. Before I jump I decide to make one more phone call home. Hopefully this time someone will answer. *Ring...Ring....Ring....Ring....Ring....Ring* No answer. Answering machine..
"Jen? Jen!? Hello? Is anyone there? Leah? Daddy loves you. Don't be scared! I will see you soon I promise! Jen, I love you." Click.
It was 9:56. I was getting ready to leap, when I started to re-think this. But, I had no choice this time, the plane came crashing through once again. Tossing me in the air with a jerk. I am falling.

I feel so light. My life flashes before my eyes. The first thing that goes through my mind is Leah. I don't want to leave her. She is daddy's princess. Jen, oh Jen. I hope she can raise her all by herself. I'm getting closer to the ground. I close my eyes. Hoping I feel nothing when I hit the concrete. I am determined to live through this. I need to. I need to be there for my Leah. Walk her down the aisle, be there to witness the birth of my first grandchild. Be there when she is sick and needs someone to comfort her. Be there to cheer her on. Like her soccer game today. I hope she wins. I feel something hit the back of my head. I'm out. Unconcious. Falling faster and faster and deeper and deeper into the black cloud of evil. Will I wake up to see another day again? To hold my little girl? To kiss my gorgeous wife once more? I hope....I am determined to. I must. I have to...wait, no. I need to.

Must I go through this? Why?

*BAM* I hit the ground with a loud splat and pain spreads throughtout my still body. I can't take it. Am I still alive? I don't know. I see....nothing. But darkness. I move my still legs that ache. I open my watery eyes to find I am lost. Lost under a cloud of smoke and a building. I feel things falling on the pile above me makeing it harder to breathe and move. It's 10:50am. The North Tower has collapsed on me. I hear cries and screaming and sirens. All over. I'm wonering if I will ever get out of here alive. I pray to God that I will okay. Whether I will loose an arm or a leg, or be paralyzed. There is one thing I will NOT

loose. Is hope. I try to yell but my throat is burning and I can't. I'm