DISCLAIMER: The characters herein are used without permission. No infringement intended.
AUTHOR'S NOTE: I wrote this down just to remember; and never forget the events of 9/11.
ARCHIVING: Only with the permission of the author.
FEEDBACK: To winter156[at]gmail.com
Do Not Go Gentle Into That Good Night
By winter156
Myka stirred, awakening to consciousness slowly. She smiled at the feel of Helena wrapped around her. Glancing out the window, she noticed the pink hue lightening the eastern sky. Carefully extricating herself from Helena's form, Myka quietly got up and made her way from the room, closing the door softly as she exited.
Moving without disturbing the quiet, she walked down the stairs, through the dining room and out the doors of the porch facing east. She leaned against the railing and waited. The first year she started at the Warehouse, it had just been her and Pete out here. The second year, Claudia, Artie and Leena had joined their pre-dawn vigil. She expected the others to make their way to the porch at any moment.
Turning when she heard the door open, Myka greeted Pete with a smile. He nodded in acknowledgment as he made his way across from where she stood on the porch. Artie shuffled in next, seating himself on one of the chairs. Leena, on his heels, filed in next, taking a spot between Pete and Artie. Lastly, Claudia walked out yawning widely but not disturbing the quiet as she leaned against the railing beside Myka. They all faced east in silent contemplation as they awaited the dawn.
Helena slipped in and stood quietly next to Myka. Without shifting her focus from the horizon, Myka gently took Helena's hand in her own and held it. Nothing interrupted the solemn silence that encompassed the group. All lost in memories of moments that begged remembrance. All honoring the fallen and lost with their reverent hush.
Dawn greeted the six solemn figures bathing them in light. Bird song finally broke the silence ushering in a new day.
New York City September 11, 2001
There were a total of 2,996 deaths, including the 19 hijackers and 2,977 victims.
The victims included 246 on the four planes, 2,606 in New York City in the towers and on the ground, and 125 at the Pentagon.
All the deaths in the attacks were civilians, except for 55 military personnel killed at the Pentagon.
In the North Tower 1,462 people were trapped and died of smoke inhalation, fell or jumped from the tower to escape the smoke and flames (or were killed in the building's eventual collapse).
In the South Tower, 630 people died.
At least 200 people fell or jumped to their deaths from the burning towers, landing on the streets and rooftops of adjacent buildings hundreds of feet below.
A total of 411 emergency workers who responded to the scene died as they tried to rescue people and fight fires.
The New York City Fire Department lost 341 firefighters and 2 paramedics.
The New York City Police Department lost 23 officers.
The Port Authority Police Department lost 37 officers.
Eight emergency medical technicians and paramedics from private emergency medical services units were killed.
1,631 of the 2,977 victims have been identified. 1,346 of the victims yet remain unidentified.
More than 70 countries lost citizens in the attacks on the World Trade Center.
There are 2,977 reasons to remember 9/11/01.
We Will Never Forget.
The End