Goodbye, I'll See You Soon

Goodbye, I'll See You Soon

I say goodbye, I'll see you soon.
You kiss my cheek and squeeze my hand.
You wave goodbye as you drive away.
I don't know if you saw me but I waved too.
The radio is on, playing our song.
Halfway through a bulletin comes on.
Perfect timing.
I look at the time, it's nine o'clock.
What are you doing now?
The announcer is on now.
He's talking about the towers.
What is going on?
I hear about the plane.
Where had it hit?
Was it near you?
I turn on the television.
It's on every channel.
I try to count the floors.
I'm getting to yours.
I can see the fire.
Part of the floor is gone.
I see your office safe in the corner.
Still in one piece.
No fire yet.
Have you made it out?
Please God let him be alright.
I grab coat and purse.
I rush out the door.
I'm coming.
I'm met by a wall of people.
Each screaming and running away.
I try to brake through the masses.
It's hard going against the flow.
I hear a rumble over the din.
A flash of silver.
An explosion of color.
A direct hit.
Two towers on fire, instead of one.
The police are pushing me away.
I don't want to leave.
Don't worry, I'll be back.
They take me to their holding area.
Many survivors are here.
Are you?
I remember your picture in my purse.
I run around asking have you seen him?
Some answer no.
Others not at all.
People are all over, wondering and looking.
Most searching, some blankly staring.
I keep searching for you. I wont give up.
I keep asking, searching.
\I hear another rumble.
I close my eyes.
Where will this one hit.
The sound grows louder.
Then stops.
No explosion, finally a miss.
I open my eyes, I'm frozen by fear.
Where there were two.
One now stands.
Your tower stands as straight as a pole.
It's flag of smoke and fire wave at me.
There is still hope.
You can make it.
My eyes never leave your tower.
Again that familiar, horrible rumble.
We collapse together.
Your tower and me.
I still wont give up, not yet.
I place your picture on the wall.
Add you to their list of names.
I have to go now.
Our son is coming home today.
Thank God he took the bus.
He beats me home.
Says he saw everything.
We still have hope.
Miracles do happen.
We hear of people being rescued.
Is it you?
Wrong tower.
Days go by.
Only the dead come out now.
No more survivors after the firefighters.
We still have hope, a little left.
Fewer and fewer bodies are found.
Some have names, most not at all.
All hope is gone.
Your funeral is Saturday.
It's a lovely casket.
Only if it wasn't empty.
We've laid it in the ground.
Your son and I.
It's Monday now.
His leave is over.
His orders are in.
He's on his way to look for a monster.
The master of this plan.
The leader of the Taliban.
He says goodbye, I'll se you soon.
I kiss his cheek and squeeze his hand.
He wave goodbye as he drives away.
I don't know if he saw me but I waved too.