by Madison Glenn

Created on: November 07, 2008

The Final Countdown: The *fictional* first person account of a waitress working at the Windows on the World during the attack.

I can almost see the concrete now. Everything's so loud... I can hear the towers screaming and the flames roaring. I remember how peaceful this morning was. I remember kissing my husband goodbye... Scratching my dog behind the ears...

Work had started just like always... I cleaned some tables and started cooking breakfast with Josh, my senior at work. I got into a silly argument with Theron, a server/dishwasher, about Scrooge McDuck and had been text messaging my friends a few minutes before the restaurant opened because we had finished prep early.

Some of my friends that worked in the lower offices came up for brunch and made small talk while I took their orders. My friend, Jason, a funny looking sort of guy, was the only male secretary on the sixty-seventh floor and we joked about it being because of his voice sounding "sexy" over intercoms.

My senior, Josh, began prepping his sushi bar for lunch time when we heard the first blast coming from below us. Jason jumped so hard his coffee spilled down his pants, the cup shattering on the ground next to him. Josh had cut his finger deeply, ruining the Unagi he was preparing and Theron fell over, knocking two tables over in the process. Some of the other waiters and waitresses ran to the windows to see what had happened... That was when we caught the first glimpse of the flames.

A pair of men that always reminded me of Laurel and Hardy ran to the door and tried to escape, but only managed to seal our fate. The flames burst into the restaurant, several patrons becoming engulfed.

Theron was the one who actually managed to break the supposedly "shatter-proof" windows. He always was an awkwardly determined type of guy. I suppose it only made sense that he be the first to jump. Several people followed, others tried to test the flames.

I pulled my phone from my apron pocket and called my husband. I had his number programmed on speed-dial.

"Hi, honey. How's work?" He asked, a cheery tone in his voice. "What's all that noise? Is everything alright?"

Tears began to pour down my face. He was such a sweet man and I'll never stop loving him, even after my death.

"I love you!" I sobbed almost incoherently. "I love you more than anything in this world and don't you ever forget it!" I sobbed harder. I couldn't really hear what he was saying, though I do know he was hysterical.

As the building charred around me I finally managed to tear myself away from the last words I would ever hear from my beloved's mouth and sluggishly crawled towards the window that several of my friends and coworkers had just leaped from.

I paused and took a deep breath. I shakily removed the glasses that I wore to make me look more professional and...... Finally... Flung myself from the Windows of the World, the restaurant the perched itself at the top of the tower where I spent several dozen hours a week for the last year of my life.

The fall has lasted much longer than I imagined. What a time for cold feet... My mind is racing... Will I feel any pain? What will my family do? My husband? Will he forgive me? Will we meet in the next life? What will my body look like on the ground? Will the fire spread? Will I still burn after I hit the ground? So many thoughts... So much utter loneliness... So scared...

Now the sidewalk is closing in... I can see what I think is Theron, staring upward, with an awkward smile on his lifeless face. He hadn't taken his medication today, I bet... What an odd thought to have... About five more seconds now... I count down to the eternal sleep....

Five.......

Four.......

Three........

Two.....

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