Saturday Centus falls on 9/11 this week, and Jenny's prompt has been chosen accordingly. The rules allow us to post a picture in remembrance of a day that changed our nation and its people forever. The 100 words I've selected to create this fictional story are meant to honor those ordinary, unsuspecting, and certainly undeserving men and women whose lives were impacted most directly by this despicable act of terror. (The prompt, below, is in red.)
∞§∞
What Will Be…
Tuesday morning tasted like regret, and brushing my teeth hadn’t changed a thing. The gritty taint of words thrown like rocks felt bitter on my tongue, Colgate notwithstanding. Fighting at the crack of dawn sucked.
“I do love you,” he offered hopefully as he rushed out the door.
I punished him with silence. I’d call later.
Something in the newscaster’s voice drew my eye to the screen. Second plane… Terrorists…Twin towers.
Oh God. Please, God.
9:03 AM.
Had he made the train? Maybe we’d argued long enough...
I stood frozen in front of the flickering images on my TV.
∞§∞
May those we lost and those who loved them be blessed,
today and every day.
19 comments:
Oh, the what-ifs...I sure hope he's ok, or was this fiction? Your description at the beginning of this piece was spot-on. Taste of regret, indeed.
That's a real story? I'm with Tina , other than the event itself , I don't know if it is real or not . Good though , very good . That would have really sucked if you did have an argument and something happened to him
Whoah! I don't even remember saying goodbye to my husband that day. Even being on the West Coast it still was terrifying to me to have him on a military base that was on its highest alert.
I love your vivid descriptions of everything, Sue. I know it's because you're a great writer, but even some writers just don't get things spot on like you do. You have a gift for making me see and feel exactly what you're talking about.
This is fiction. I should have clarified that and have added the word "fictional" to my introduction.
Thanks.
=)
Unfortunately, there were probably people that had those thoughts that day. Some probably had to live with the fact that that was how they ended it with their loved one.
Nice job...I am sure your fiction was someone's truth.
Even though this was fiction, I could feel the reality of the situation. It must have been horrific for those that had family or friends that worked there. To see those planes crash into the buildings will forever last in all our memories. Imagine what it was like for someone who's husband was there.
It makes you wonder how many people who lost someone on 9/11 experienced a scenario something like that. Chilling.
These are the types of memories I believe many carry and somehow it just makes it all more horrific.
Your writing style is amazing and no wonder you have chosen this for a career. Really makes you think. Thanks for a poignant post!!
watched raw footage on the history channel last night. I had to turn it off after an hour or so. The images are still so disturbing to me. What a day it was.
When I saw it on television, I thought it was a movie. I still remembered it clearly!
Always a reminder to never leave things on a bad note.
I admire your bravery in tackling this with a story. It works ... I'm sure there were all too many mornings like that on that day. Well done.
:( So sad! I cannot imagine if that had happened to me. A big fight, angry words or no words at all as he left, and then a tragedy where you don't know if he is dead or alive. My stomach churns at the thought.
It's a little scary each day - our loved ones go out the door everyday. Hopefully all is right with our world until they come back home again.
Kristin
Oh Sue.
Even in fiction there is truth. How many people had those emotions on that morning.
I have found comfort in the sense of community I feel reading through the links this week.
Thank you for sharing your vision.
I guessed that this was fiction because it was just too well-written. I like the metaphor of the gritty taste that does not go away with tooth-brushing. I am sure that there must be people that regret their last words to their loved-ones, not knowing it was the last time.
Something to think about...
You have written an excellent post. But I think that those who really have lost someone. I wonder if they could really write about it like that.
I sat and read through CNN's list of victims last week (which is why I am behind in commenting on other's posts). I read through every one from A to Z just to make sure. Thankfully no one I knew was on the list. But I discovered that instead of writing about how these men and women died, their loved ones wrote about how they lived. There are about 20 tributes that really stick out in my mind. So I will probably write an extra post about it outside of any meme.
You are a remarkable writer, Sue. It's always a pleasure reading what you have written, even though this assignment was extra sad.
Best wishes,
Anna
For the benefit of other readers:
Anna's SC-Remembering 9/11
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