I’m Not a Hero

I wish they survived, but they did not. I was a spectator, helpless but full of survivor’s guilt.

September 11, 2001

Mike’s Account: I’m going to work today, excited because I was promoted just 1 week ago. I do not like the city much, I’m more of the suburban kind. The streets are filthy and loud to me.There is garbage everywhere and I smell urine. I’m covering my nose but it doesn’t really help. I look at my watch. “Shoot!” I have 10 minutes to get to work! I must be lucky today because a cab dropped somebody off just ahead of me. “Taxi!” The driver looked at me, got back in the car, and waited. I start running to the cab. The driver sits there, staring straight ahead with a disappointed look. “He probably hates his job,” I’m thinking as I get in the car. He pulls away from the curb and starts driving. He’s a good driver. He got me there in 3 minutes. I’m in the elevator and jamming the 4th floor button. The elevator is slow to start, so I start repeatedly hitting the button, thinking it will help.

4th Floor

I’m right on time. I rush over to my desk and start moving everything in my bag onto the desk. I open the laptop and start working. This is going to be a long day.

8:43 A.M.

I’m taking a break right now. I turn around from my desk and look out the huge window. I think I see an airplane. Not interesting. I look at the ground. Nothing interesting. I look at my watch. 8: 44. “I guess I’ll get back to work,” I muttered, hoping for something, anything to happen. “This promotion isn’t as great as I thought yesterday. I looked out the window again. The airplane was closer now, at a downwards angle. “That’s odd,” I kept on watching. 8:45. I started running towards the elevator. I had to warn them. I went to the 12th floor, as far as I was willing to go. Everybody was working diligently, so they didn’t look out the window. “Emergency! Get out of the building right now!” I saw how close the plane was and rephrased. “Get to cover!” I ran and ducked under a desk. The plane wasn’t going to hit our floor, but it seemed close.

8:45, Adam’s Account, 57th floor.

I saw the plane and new that all I could do was warn them. I told them to run down the stairs. I myself am not. The plane is right there now. I hope I’ve left a good impression in my life.

8:46

A big explosion became one of the biggest events in American History. And they all died.

1st Floor, My Account 8:46

The only reason I survived was because I arrived late. I didn’t try to help. I just ran. They said I was a hero for surviving. I don’t see how.