

the fireman......the girl
---
The bow hugged the strings of the instrument, velvetine sounds awing the audience into silence. The single girl stood not on a stage, but on the ground, like the rest of the people, the bright white light glaring against her skin, beads of sweat threatening to break from her pores. Her face was knit together in concentration, her eyes flying across the crude notes scribbled across the sheet of music. There was no doubt in anyones mind about the girls talent. She was amazing; like an angel sent down to earth straight from heaven. When she was done, there was a slight pause, as if the whole room was in disbelief that she was done. And then applause. Such applause; the whole office space erupted. It was a beautiful sight. Almost as beautiful as the little girl.
---
The headlines were all the same. "World Trade Center Attacked; Thosands Dead", "Terrorist Attack on America", "Twin Towers No More", "9/11, a day to remember." What had happened that day was so huge, nobody would have been suprised if aliens had landed. The fireman wiped soot from his forehead, his sides heaving from so much labor, and no rest. They had to work all night to pull the last of the survivors from the rubble. Sirens wailed, people wailing alongside with them. It was a symphony of sadness. Pushing away what seemed like a desk, a petite body lay curled up next to a pile of papers and a chair. She appeared to be sleeping, but the man knew that was not the case. He knelt down to pick her up, when he noticed something in her hand. A violin. It was severely mangled, but he could still distinguish the shape. The girl looked vaguely familiar; like someone he had seen before in a dream. He picked the crumpled body up, tucking her head in, and closing her eyelids. He brought her to the sidewalk, and set her down, violin beside her. Watching with misty eyes, the EMTs placed a sheet over her, as if tucking her in for bed.
But the man knew that was not the case.
---
9/11 is approaching, and I wish I could tell every single person and family that has been effected by this how much I sympathize for them. If I could, I would show each and every one of them my sorrow. Sadly, that is not the case, but I did write this in honor of those lost on September 11th, 2001.