“Blam!” A massive explosion sends fire and debris flying over my head! I stand my ground as I maintain my grip on the fire hose that threatens to whip out of control. Rubble and smoke surround me as police sirens blare out their eerie wail. I glance up at the Twin Towers and see that one of the fuel tanks from the planes has just exploded.
“James! There are still people in the buildings! We have to get them out!” I hear my friend Kevin call out to me. “Grab some of the other firefighters and bring them with you!”
I cry back, “Are you insane? Those buildings are unstable! We’ll die! I’m not going in there!”
“We have to evacuate the towers!” He gestures at me urgently.
I glance around, uncertain. All about me, police officers and paramedics hustle to help the wounded. Erica, a firefighter from our division, is running this way, so I hand the hose off to her and quickly meet up with Kevin, who is heading towards the entrance of one of the towers. We push against the flow of fleeing civilians like salmon swimming upstream. As we near the stairs, Kevin turns to me.
“Where are the others?” He asks.
“Crap!” I smack my forehead with my hand. “I forgot to grab extra help.”
“Too late now,” Kevin responds with a slight head shake.
I think he says something else to me, but it’s starting to become difficult to hear over all the commotion. Screams ring out and I stumble over the mangled dead bodies that lay in our path. Trying not to gag at the gruesome sight, I turn my head and rush up the stairs to where Kevin is waiting. Breathing is arduous now, so I reach back and turn the valve to my oxygen tanks, inhaling deeply as clean air flows through my lungs. Flames lick at my heels, consuming the steps behind me.
“Turn back! It’s caved in!” Kevin barks at me.
“It’s not safe,” I reply, as I survey the wreckage preventing us from getting through. Muffled voices come from the other side. Head pounding, heart racing, I start tearing the blockage away as the fire approaches. Joining me, Kevin pulls out his axe and begins to hack away at the barrier. After what seems like an eternity, we break through the obstacle, stumbling into the startled crowd on the other side.
I quickly take charge, herding the frightened New York citizens down a still intact hallway. “Is that everyone?” I question Kevin.
“No,” He pants, “A few are unconscious or can’t walk.”
Grunting, I hoist two limp bodies onto my shoulders, and Kevin does the same. We turn to leave, but then the ceiling crashes down in front of us! Falling back, we trudge down a nearby corridor.
“Which way?” I scream in panic.
“Calm down, James,” I faintly hear Kevin say.
Oblivious to all else, I sprint across the corridor, blindly taking turns. I can hear Kevin following closely. No exits are in sight, and my energy is quickly draining. Just as it seems that I can run no more, I see a stairwell rising up out of the darkness.
“Hurry!” I bellow at Kevin. “This building could come down any minute!”
I take a left turn, a right turn, and then another right, following the exit signs. Along the way we gather survivors in the building. I can tell that we only have seconds left until the skyscraper collapses. My heart is pounding, not able to take the burden of all the running.
At last, I see the exit. I put out one final burst of power, fueled by adrenaline, and dash into the outside world. I made it! I set down the wounded victims I was carrying, and turn towards Kevin, only to see that he isn’t there!
Worried, I head back towards the building.
“Kevin! Where are you?” I shout, but no answer returns.Through the darkness, I see a bulky form on the ground, and I rush to the figure's side. It’s Kevin, and he’s grimacing.
“I tripped and hurt my ankle. I can’t walk,” He moans.
“Come on! I’m not leaving you here.”
“Take these people to safety and then get me. They matter more.”
Knowing Kevin won’t come with me until I do as he says, I reluctantly begin to drag the unconscious people to safety. I’ve just gotten the last man out when I hear the sound of crumbling concrete.
Moments after I turn around, I see the building start to collapse, and I know that there is nothing I can do to save my friend. As I watch the catastrophe unfold, I let loose an unearthly howl that rips deep into my soul. A wound has been inflicted on my heart that will never be repaired.
Three months later, I’m sitting on my bed staring at a plaque that just arrived for me. My name and firefighting squad are inscribed upon it. I flip it over and see that it is from one of the people whom I helped. Looking at the plaque brings back sad memories of that fateful September day. I think of the citizens that I saved, and what they are doing now. That day, I learned that what matters is others and their safety, not our own. I learned that great people are willing to fight and die for their homes and their country, and I learned sorrow. And as I gaze down upon this plaque, a hint of a smile plays upon my lips, because I know that Kevin would be proud of me.