8.46a.m on 9/11 Part 8

' Honey ! Darling ! Breakfast's ready!'I called out. The kids were all watching Pink Panther and laughing their heads off, to hear their laughter made me laugh ,to see them laugh makes me smile. Oh these things to parents are so adorable , but to other people is like 'ok, whatever.' But their laughter contains so much joy that they have in their lives, and so much love they have around them, oh, looking and hearing them laugh just makes me smile.

Out of a sudden, my eyes flicked the whole kitchen and i saw a photo of me and my one and only beloved Colin standing on a field of green grass and behind us was the Eifel Tower .I was our first honeymoon And the radio in the kitchen was airing Our Last Summer , which was our song, that now brought me back to the time I was with him in Paris. The day was 8th June 1998, the starting of summer, when he proposed to me under the Eifel Tower . He brought the radio along , and put on Our Last Summer . Then, he kneeled down on his knees and said 'Luv, for these 2 years i have been with you, was such a joy, you're just so smart, beautiful , sexy, and most of all you have a heart of gold. Luv, you've turned my world upside down, which i just don't know how to thank you , because , I just Love you so very much , you're just like my soul mate , Angie , you are the first girl i've ever loved and the future leading woman in my life. Oh , luv, Angie, will you marry me?' I was stunned and emotions were running high in my heart and I nodded quickly and screamed , ' Oh, YES!!' I jumped and found myself in his huge muscular arms that was prepared to take me as his wife and protect me from harm and danger in any other way, because i know he loves me . He smiled and we kissed tenderly letting the cold wind blow our cheeks , kissing them gently, he said, ' You are my Universe , Angie' then ,we walked away . Oh, so much of the language of love was like that, you devoured someone with your eyes, and you drank in the sight of him and you just swallowed him whole. That night, we slept under the stars together.

The thought of losing him was such a great pain . I cried , and cried , tears just couldn't stop dripping onto my toes, it was pure torture about the thought of losing him, he was my first love, my first guy.

The front door creaked open, Jared called : ' Daddy ! Daddy!' welcoming him home . My daughter ran to me instead and asked me : ' Mommy, why is daddy back so early?' I answered' well , i don't know , go ask daddy then ," I smiled and kissed her forehead , oh she smelled like milk , the baby smell , and it made me kissed her the second time . I carried her to the corridor , tears were still welled up in my eyes, and I saw him. Alive.'Oh my god!' I said . He saw me and i put Sarah down . I touched his face and said' you guys go watch some tv will you ? ' Then , my daughter asked : ' Daddy , why are you back early ? ' He then said : ' Because i missed you alot, Sarah ,Jared and Mommy too' in a gentle voice.I whispered into his ear and said: Don't you dare even do that again , Colin Alexander Crawford , I tell you . It breaks my heart, I just don't know how to live my life without you , do you realize that? ' My daughter hugged him and he gave a chuckle and kissed her on the forehead , and she disappeared into the tv room . We were alone . I touched his face to see that if it was real, because hearing someone's voice just doesnt's tell whether the person's with you or not . He tried to open his mouth , but nothing came through , he smiled and nodded and we stared at each other . Then , he slowly held me near , the main door was open ,i saw his face , and noticed his features were too delicate to match the craggy lines of the mountains in he backdrop behind him. We kissed , this time feeling each other's heart pounding through our very own chests. He quietly said : ' I love you ,Angie'and we hugged as he wiped my tears off my cheeks .This time , a mottled flush rose up my neck , as if memory could be burned into the flesh.

8.46a.m on 9/11 Part 7

I was worried. Period.I just wanted to go home NOW. This time, I decided to run . There was no turning back . Suddenly, the media came like a wave as unwelcome as a tsunami , even CNN 's here , many reporters were rushing towards me, just like a stampede , but a minor one. I wriggled through the people , and i turned back and looked, then closed my eyes at the ultimatum, the wind blew, it was cold and i let it kiss my cheek tenderly, and finally walked away. When I walked away, I felt the checks and balances of the reporters stares, but I ignored it. Every step felt like a thunderstorm behind my eyes.

I reached home, and opened my front door, and it hinged like the jaw of the dragon, the dramatic sigh when it came to a stop, that loud. Out of the blue, I heard a familiar voice that shouted : ' Daddy! Daddy! ' My face that was just now looking to the ground now slowly looked up and I drew a smile on my face. It was my son, Jared Alexander Crawford calling me, welcoming me back from for what i call 'work'. He jumped and leaped into my arms , i felt the sense of trust my son has given to me from the day he was born , and I 'm so very proud to be a father and a husband to the most amazing , sexiest, beautiful, Smartest woman in my life . My wife walked in to the corridor with Sarah on the other hand and she puts her down . Fast. And touched my face. Oh, I'm with her again.I saw her tears welled in her deep blue eyes and rose along the watermark of her throat.Then , my daughter asked : ' Daddy? why are you back early ? ' I said ' Because I missed you a lot, Sarah, Jared and Mommy too." Angie came close to me and whispered :' Don't you dare even do that again Colin Alexander Crawford , I tell you . It breaks my heart, I just don't know how to live my life without you , do you realize that? ' My only daughter hugged me tightly at my leg and i gave her a chuckle then i kissed her on the forehead, she then disappeared into the tv room. She touched my face , to ensure whether i'm alive or not .


We were alone , ,I tried to dislodge my words, but nothing came through , I smiled and nodded . We stared at each other . Her mouth softened with relief , tears were still in her eyes, looking at her pout mouth, I held her near, not wanting to lose her again , and her skin smelled of evergreen and spearmint, this close. We kissed this time feeling each other's heart pounding through our very own chests. Then , a mottled flush rose up her neck , as if memory could be burned into the flesh. I quietly said ' I love you , Angie' , we hugged, as I wipe off her tears on her soft cheeks. It was 9.00 a.m.

8.46a.m on 9/11 Part 6

"Jared, can you give me a minute ?Let me make a call to Daddy okay ?" I said , trying to cool myself down . My son who was still at my leghugging it tight ,mumbled ' okay' he said. I picked up my phone and dialled my husband's number , and waited, this time my son was sitting on the couch switching channels to Cartoon Network , and he suddenly laughed. Looking at him laughing was such joy, because a kid like him is too young to know what was happening to his very own father, he's still innocent , looking at his little face made me smile . ' Hello? Angie, yeah , I 'm fine , running home now..The World Trade Center is crushing down ...and lots of people are dead, lying unconscious on the road, Oh God , it's a mess, it's chaos ! How's Jared and Sarah ? Are they Alright? What bout y-??' I was about to answer and ask him how is he at this moment but the line cut off. Shit. I thought of it to the worst , but i told myself ,he just can't do that , leaving me and the kids . I turned, clasping my mouth , holding myself tight , controlling my emotions , and my 3 year old daughter came down step by step . I looked at her pout mouth, and i smiled , she smiled too. I asked,' Good Morning, S, want any pancakes??' She smiled and nodded slowly and came and gave me a hug . I got up and switched on the stove and tried to put a smile on my face not telling them what's their father going through right at this moment.

8.46a.m on 9/11 Part 5

Every bit and inch of the city was filled with screams, shouts and sirens of police cars and fire engines. In just ten minutes, i could see a few people lying dead by the roadside , unconsious, in front of my very own eyes. I froze for a moment, not believing what i had seen a while ago . I ran again , this time, I could feel a trickle of sweat running down my spine . I was running to my family . My wife - Angie , she was my sustenance . My eyes were now heavy with all the scenarios that had just happened . Suddenly, reality sank in. The World Trade Center had come undersiege.



Out of the blue, the song ' Tonight I Celebrate My Love' rang in my left pocket. I scrambled it out and read the screen and it said 'Angie calling .....' I picked it up . ' Hello? Angie, yeah , I 'm fine , running home now..The World Trade Center is crushing down ...and lots of people are dead, lying unconcious on the road, Oh God , it's a mess, it's chaos ! How's Jared and Sarah ? Are they Alright? What bout y-??' and the line was cut off, all i could hear was my wife's cries when i was talking , I controlled myself , i had to walk up to her and tell her that i'm ok, and I love her, that's all i wanted to say. I picked myself up , and walked away from the scene.

8.46a.m on 9/11 Part 4

I came down , after a shower, the kids were still in their sleep. I saw my phone, and it said that there's one message there and i pressed the button for it to repeat. ' Angie , this is me , Colin , take care of Jared and Sarah , take care of yourself too, I'm safe, and I love you, don't worry about me . ok ?" i knew who was on the phone, it was my husband Colin Alexander Crawford. i quickly switched on the tv and watch the breaking news , and it was soon enough to know what was happening out there in Lower Manhattan.

My beloved husband , the one whom i met in Harvard University , who was studying Corporate Law at that time. He was brilliant , sexy , handsome, gentle , caring , romantic and a man every girl would die for , but he was mine. It was love at first sight, it was Autumn ,the second year i was in Harvard studying Buisness and also the second year for him studying Corporate Law. He was the one who chased me in Harvard , asked me out on dates . He was the one who proposed to me , everything he did was perfect, nothing and nobody could beat him in whatever he did . We were married on July 12th 1993 in Hawaii, on the beach , it was all so white and lovely,just the way i wanted it to be . We've been married for 15 years . He was the one who took me around the world and donated thousands to war-torn countries,he was the one who gave me suprises, the one that listens to me intently with his deep blue eyes and his blond hair swept across his head . We had quite a number of Honeymoons because i know his love for me is unconditional , and so do i love him so much . In our 15 years of our marriage, we've never screamed at each other , but had our disagreements , it was just a perfect marriage. He's been honest , loyal , and trustworthy for all these years . Oh, these things suddenly rush through my memory box , but , suddenly hearing him on the phone in this shaky, scared voice, it made my heart break , he was my only love and nothing more than that. 'Oh My God ! Oh My God ! Please help my husband ! I beg you ! ' I screamed my heart out , i was sad, depressed , confused. My God, i thought to myself, what will happen to the kids's dad ? My kids adore my husband, they love him, he's the soft hearted one between me and him , i am the disiplinarian at home . I remembered my husband saying everyday in the morning , ' Good morning, luv'.Yes, it's simple and plain, but, it meant alot to me. My husband's an Irish , that's what makes him funny with his accents, i suddenly laughed, deep in thought . I pressed the button replay, and my husband's voice repeated again , this time , my 4 year old son , Jared Alexander that was awakened by my screams, called me ' Mommy ? Where's Daddy? ' I turned, I looked at him at his curious blue eyes, still in a daze , he inherited my husband's good looks , standing at the staircase holding his bear named Barney and still in his pyjamas. He ran to me and hugged me . He asked me timidly', Mommy? Where's Daddy ? Why are you crying?' I heard his innocent questions , i did not know what to say , and finally said, ' Honey, Daddy's at work and his alright , and i feel sad , just be quiet for a moment okay ? i'll make you some pancakes okay ? Would you like that ?' 'Yeah, pancakes ! Mom ? Can you put some honey on it ? ' ' Yeah , sure.' I hugged him ,tight . I suddenly felt my eyes welled up with tears . I need to call him NOW. PERIOD .

8.46a.m on 9/11 Part 3

I felt a pulse of panic. I ran towards the building, not believing my very own eyes. I ran as fast as i could carry my body. I didn't know what would happen next or what was supposed to happen next , but it would be random , unpredictable and uncomfortable . I called my family . But, I was unlucky, I reached my voicemail box , that goes' Hey, you've reached the Colin, Angelina , Jared and Sarah's Crawford household , please leave your message after we have said We'll be right back !!!' and beep . ' Angie , this is me , Colin , take care of Jared and Sarah , take care of yourself too, I'm safe, and I love you, don't worry about me . ok " That was all I said, it was difficult , because it's something you wouldn't know whether or not you'll be seeing them again, my family is my priority and their my precious gems. This time, police cars were screeching to a halt around the corner . People were screaming and crying in fear, scrambling for their dear lives, looking for their families. I thought of the call I just had made, maybe or maybe not this would be the last time I saw my beautiful, kindhearted wife and two brilliant kids that I built with my wife because , we're a family.

The World Trade Center which once stood proud, was no more, it was reduced to Ground Zero . Every bit of the building , every tile was crushing down , now, New York is in Bad Shape. This, was what no one expected it to be till today..

8.46a.m on 9/11 Part 2

My mornings were always filled with the hustle and bustle of the city that never slept. Out of the bule, I , myself, witnessed a big shadow shaped like an aircraft in the sky blocking the ultra-bright sunshine from passing through to the grounds covered with tar. I looked up. This time, strangers around me looked,too. As we tried to decipher what was happening, we froze in our tracks. Some even had their jaws dropped to the ground. All of us were motionless. We could only watch in horror, helplessly. The hustle and bustle of the city came to a pause. All I could hear was the breaking news from the televisions from the Sony Centre shop I was standing next to . Before any action could even take place, it was too late. ' Bang ' . This sound was all it took to shock the New Yorkers into a mad frenzy. Thick black smoke billowed in the air . A plane had crashed into the first tower of the World Trade Center . 8.46 a.m was the moment that shook the nation and the rest of the world.

8.46a.m on 9/11 Part 1

At 8.46a.m ,you maybe be mowing the front lawn, or you'll be making breakfast for a family of four or having your morning shower. At 8.46a.m, you can wake your teenagers from their sleep which is usually filled with dreams. At 8.46a.m , may be the time you'll find yourself hurrying downstairs because you are running late for work.

8.46a.m is the time which changed many people's lives in mere minutes and is also the time when the world's tallest building crushed down to mother earth on September 11th 2001.

Autumn, is always the season that children look forward to, to have the times of their lives. But, this time, it would be unusual , different,because on this very day , September 11th, it would be the day that would change the whole world, and the day that people would never know what was going to happen next as more was yet to come . As usual, I was rushing for work , again . It took thirty-two minutes to drive from my house in Brooklyn, the east side of New York to the World Trade Center in central New York, Lower Manhattan . I hurried downstairs in my socks, carrying my shoes and files which I had brought home with me over the weekend as I am a Corporate Lawyer and also the director for my firm.

After the thirty-two minute drive to Lower Manhattan, I parked my car at my usual place where I walked from , to the office everyday, As usual, the smell of freshly brewed cofee drew me into Starbucks . I , myself , who's a coffee addict purchased a steaming hot cup of coffee and a bagel. As I walk , I could smell the fresh air being breathed in to my trachea and then to my lungs , it was a pleasant and beautiful morning with the birds chirping around here and there,and hearing the footsteps of other people walking slowly enjoying and savouring every bit of that wonderful morning.

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