A Final Thought...(no one was screaming)

A Final Thought…(no one was screaming)

By T. Scott Rowe

Author’s Note: Nearly a year after the September 11th 2001 destruction of the north and south towers of the World Trade Center, USA Today reported that perhaps as many as 200 individuals, mostly in the North tower, jumped to their deaths that morning. This wasn’t mass suicide; most likely no one was contemplating killing himself or herself that morning. Faced with a surprise deadly situation that quickly developed, those above the 78th floor of the WTC north tower could only choose how, and to a certain extent, when they would die. “For those who jumped, the fall lasted 10 seconds. They struck the ground at just less than 150 mph – not fast enough to cause unconsciousness while falling, but fast enough to ensure instant death.” “…The manner of death for all those who died was listed as homicide on death certificates.” This is one of their stories…

Marshall blinked twice as he caught me with his gaze, having just thrown a conference chair through the plate glass window. A torrent of searing fumes, not really air, blew down the corridor, through us, and out the newly created aperture, making it surprisingly hard to hear, as well as breathe. I was able to lip read something like “There’s no way out, the fire’s about to burn through the floor if we don’t choke before, and I ain’t going to be toast in this building.” He smiled and waved just before he jumped, more of push off without looking back.

I was thinking what a little shit for jumping and leaving me here by myself. He and I were the only ones in the office this morning when the fire started, which somebody on 104th said was due to a plane crash. I didn’t see it, I was making copies, but I sure felt the building shudder and sway. The fire moved so fast that we couldn’t even get to the elevators and stairwells, we could see the flames and smoke breaking through the floors in various places. It didn’t take but 5 or 10 seconds and the heat was so intense we couldn’t move nowhere, so we was trapped here, in this hallway leading to the conference room. I inched forward and grabbed the steel windowsill; it was too hot to hold onto. I have to keep my knees and feet moving now ‘cause the floor is getting so hot. Looking out I see people starting to gather in the plaza, looking up at me. Whoosh! Whoa, I almost got nailed by some guy flying by, must of jumped from above? Now I see several more coming by in quick succession, ties and jackets fluttering, they are dressed so well, no one was screaming. I can no longer breathe in here, I have to stick my head out the window to take a breath, but I have to watch out because I don’t want to be hit by nobody. AAAh! The carpet’s melting on my hand! Damn, shit, I can’t rub it off, it’s burning and no one’s going to get to me in time…

oh its good to breathe again oh god its so much cooler feels so good im flyin…damn should have written a note where would i have left a note i could have left it on me wow its a pretty day im sorry god im going to miss tanya and missy and mommy and little butu i should have left the password with m_.