He lies on the surgery table
Bright lights shine in his face.
He knows this is his last chance.
He may live or he may die today.
A masked nurse stands next to him,
pulling warming blankets up to his neck.
"It's going to be fine." She reassures him reaching under the blanket for his shaking arm.
He smiles weakly at her and says,
"Whatever you do, please don't let go of my hand."

A cop runs from his squad car,
red and blue lights
cut the darkness.
He runs to the thin blonde girl lying
on the street.
Pulling on gloves he talks urgently into the call mike on his shoulder.
Begging to send Rescue - fast.
He bends down to the young girl,
gently pushing blood tinged hair from her face.
"Hey, just lie still. Help is on the way. What's your name?"
She doesn't answer.
Her eyes staring straight ahead.
He feels for a pulse.
"Stay with me now sweetie!" He says
putting one arm under her neck gently
turning her to him.
He holds her blood smeared right hand,
two manicured fingernails broken.
He looks at her worriedly,
His eyes meet her glazing ones.
"Whatever you do, please don't let go of my hand."

A bride and groom stand in a candle lit church.
Music plays softly.
Tears of joy and the scent of flowers in the air.
The happy couple exchange vows and rings nervously.
They kiss each other lovingly.
Two now as one now walk down the aisle
as man and wife.
She turns to him and whispers gently,
"Whatever you do, please don't let go of my hand."

Two good friends at work one beautiful
September morning.
Standing in a smoke filled room.
Lungs burning, covered in ash.
They throw two chairs through a window.
Standing together facing
the beautiful clear blue sky.
Scared and crying Susie reaches out to Sheila as they walk towards the window edge together.
Making a weak but brave smile Sheila says, "Whatever you do, please don't let go of my hand."

On the way to work this morning
I sit in my car listening to the radio.
The sun dawns over the horizon
and it is the start of a brand new day.
I thank God for this vision.
I thank Him for my friends and family,
for everything and all I have.
The last thing I ask God each morning is
"Whatever you do, please don't let go
of my hand"....



Caryn M. Suarez

September 11, 2001 -

Two years later we still cannot forget that day in our life, nor we will ever! We must go on though to cherish each and every day and those that make up each second of it!