Beyond the Sunrise

I quickly ran down the flight of stairs to the platform of the subway with the thought of Bill still on my mind. I reached inside my jacket pocket and felt for the resume’. I did not want to let my friend down. I pushed my way through the crowd and stood several rows back and waited for the downtown subway. I then paused a few moments and realized the train was running late. It couldn’t have been the worst day for it to be delayed. The platform was becoming overly consumed with people. They were backing up into the stairwell. The lights of the train could be seen from where I was standing on the platform. I wondered if I would make it onto this train or would need to wait for the next one. I was hopeful that the people in front of me would be aggressive at their effort to board the packed railroad car. The train stopped, the doors opened and then the people rushed in like a herd of cattle. I pushed myself into the car and grabbed the nearest pole as the door closed. Someone hit me in the back with their attaché’ case. The train continued on its way to Wall Street. The lights flickered and the sound of the wheels squeaking against the tracks as it came into a station pierced through my ears. I felt a sudden ringing in my ears that abruptly ended as the train continued its journey. I hoped this train would not stall out. I really needed to be at the office. Perhaps I should have taken a taxi. My worst fears were realized when the train came to a shrieking halt. The lights and the blowers shut off for a few moments that felt like an eternity. The subway started to move and then stopped. Everyone waited, but there was not even a hint of the train beginning to move to the next station. I took a deep breath with excited anticipation. Finally, after a long interlude the lights began to flicker and the sound of the engine was heard as the blower above my wary head could be felt. The train started to move through the dark tunnel and in few minutes reached the next station. The lights came into focus as we arrived. The next stop would be Wall Street. People began to pour into the car and now I was sandwiched in amongst several women. I felt a pocketbook in my ribs and tried to move, but my effort to reposition myself was futile. The train finally began to move. It was speeding and then came to another abrupt stop. Once again the subway cars went dark. There undoubtedly was going to be another delay and people were complaining. I thought to myself. “Why hadn’t they fixed these frigging trains so that there were not so many delays”? The train had begun to move. I gazed down at my watch. It was 8:45. I looked out the window and noticed the lights that lit the station in the distance. However, once again the train stopped. A loud thundering sound was heard. The train car jerked and there was total darkness. Something was not right. This was not just another train mishap, I thought. Twenty minutes passed and still total darkness. I had begun to smell smoke, but thought it was the train fumes, but they were getting more intense. There was major concern amongst the people. The chatter was becoming louder. People were concerned and beginning to become frightened. Then there was an announcement that was somewhat garbled. but audible. “Ladies and gentlemen, there has been an incident on the tracks ahead that has affected our services. We are sorry for the inconvenience. Please walk carefully through the train toward the first car to exit.” The noisy clamor fell to a veil of dead silence. I felt an undercurrent of tension amongst the people and was concerned that panic would break out. The auxiliary lights were on and at times flickered. The passengers walked through the cars slowly helping those who needed assistance. A general sense of fear and anticipation brought on by the circumstances prevailed. I followed the others and at the end of the car the conductor helped the people to step down to the tracks and as we continued our way to the platform. The tracks were lined with policemen with flashlights. The police also assisted those who needed help and pointed us in the right direction. There was an older, gray haired man with a cane in front of me. I supported him as he cautiously stepped down the metal stairs of the train car. I followed the others along the tracks, but quickened my pace once I arrived to the train platform. I did not want to be late for work. I was determined in spite of what was happening around me. The auxiliary lights were on at the station. The smell of something burning was becoming more intense. I was beginning to realize that what was occurring was pervasive. I took my cellphone out of my pocket and looked at it. There was no reception! I noticed in the distance that there were policemen directing people to the street. I decided to take the north corridor, but it was blocked and I was forced to exit through the secondary exit to the street. I once again quickened my pace, but there was a massive crowd of people in front of me and when I arrived at the street level there was utter chaos. People were running in all different directions. Pieces of assorted paper and ash were falling like a torrid of rain from the sky. It was difficult to breathe. I made my way with difficulty through the wall of people and walked toward Tower One of the Wall Trade Center. Many people were running out from the building. They appeared frightened and terrified. Their clothes were disheveled and soiled. Their faces were covered with soot. They were shouting, “Oh no, help.” I tried to enter the building, but when I was about one hundred feet away several policemen directed me to “move on.” I could not get close enough to them to ask them any questions. Firemen were hastily entering the building. I attempted to access my cell phone, but there was still no service. Someone ran into me and I realized that he too should head toward the street. When I arrived there, I looked up. There was a ball of flames and smoke engulfing the building. As I continued down the street, I turned back and once again looked up. “Oh no! What the fuck!” I yelled out. I was aghast. People were jumping out of the building. I heard screaming and a thumping and splattering sound as they hit the ground. Sirens were blasting. A man who was running in my direction ran into me and I fell to the ground. Another man stepped on me before I managed to stand-up. The packet of papers in my inside pocket fell to the ground. I reached for them just as someone stepped on them. A windblast encircled the soiled papers and they went airborne. I ran after them and as I grabbed them I heard a loud noise and looked up. In the distance I was able to see a jumbo jet in the sky heading toward Tower Two. I thought to myself that we must be under attack. Then there was a thunderous explosion as the plane collided with the building and imploded. I saw another large fiery ball of flame encircle the building. I yelled out, “What in the world is happening?”