Something I wrote three years ago in remembrance of those who died on this tragic day.

“Brave”

Jonathan lived with his kid and his wife.
In New York City, they lived the big city life.
Every morning at 7, as always he got up.
His wife made him breakfast and put coffee in his cup.
And as he ate, his wife just held him so,
Too in love was she to ever let go.
“I love you, ” he told her. “I know you do babe,
Now get ready, or else you’re going to be late.”
It was Tuesday morning at 7:41,
On September 11th 2001.

He arrived at work at 8:34
As always, took the elevator to the 95th floor.
Jon shook a few hands on his way to his desk,
He said some hello’s, and just smiled at the rest.
He barely sat down, when he heard someone scream.
He stood up and his heart dropped to his knees.
For a split second, Jon couldn’t believe his eyes:
A plane roaring down, falling out of the sky.
At that same time, his wife sensed something was wrong.
Something told her, “Turn the television on.”
What she saw on the screen shook the world at her feet:
“Twin Towers attacked, reporting live at the scene.”

Jon woke up to the smell of rubble and smoke.
He picked himself up and took a moment to cope.
Through the dust and the ash, he made his way to the door,
While the Al Qaeda proclaimed, “This is now war!”
He was on his way out when, from inside, he heard a voice.
Someone else was trapped, and he was now faced with a choice:
Get out to safety, and see his wife and kid,
Or head back inside and be that hero within?
All he wanted was to go home to his wife.
But he knew, deep down, he had to go back inside.
As hard as it was, he courageously turned around.
Through the chaos around him, he headed back towards the sound.

What he found inside was a coworker he had known.
He had a wife and a kid and a life of his own.
Trapped under the wreckage, this poor man was stuck.
So Jon garnered his strength and prayed it was enough.
Miraculously, Jon was able to lift the debris.
The man crawled out, and now he was free.
“I can’t thank you enough, now let’s get outside.”
“You go,” Jon said. “I’ll be right behind.”
And as the man made his way out the door.
Jon just stood there, that weight on his shoulders.
He was the only thing keeping the room from collapsing.
If he let go of the debris, the worst were to happen.

Not knowing what to do, he stood there in silence.
Accepting his fate, he then closed his eyes.
He thought of everything: his kid, his life.
But most of all, he simply thought of his wife.
Somehow, someway, his wife felt him too.
“Baby, where are you? I’m coming for you.”
“It’s okay, dear, it’s time to let go.
I love you more than you will ever know.”
And in the blink of an eye, Jon’s life went away
Along with 3,000 others that day.

That night, Jon’s kid asked his mom,
“Mommy, where has daddy gone?”
Though stricken by grief, she found strength to proceed.
“Your daddy did something this world really needs.
In a world torn by war, he learned how to save,
and in a world ruled by fear, he learned to be brave.”