Author: Lady Niwa @ Starlady Syazwani
An old man, Josh who lost her daughter in terrorist attacks on September 11,2001, is sitting in reminiscing on the bench nearby survivor tree, at National 9/11 Memorial in Lower Manhattan. He is recalling his sweet memories with his daughter, Josie. Josh couldn't trigger any pleasant memory that have both of them. Looking at the survivor tree. He frowns.
“14 years ago …. Why didn’t I pick up her call that day….? It was my entire fault”
***
“…. You are the worst daughter I've ever had. I wonder why God took your sister but not you Josie!”
“Let me explain first daddy…”
“… No need Josie. Enough is enough.”
Josh slammed the door leaving Josie alone in her bedroom. Crystal clear fluid was flowing through her cheeks.
***
“Josie, pack your stuff I don't wanna see your face anymore! Why can't you be like your late sister. God should take u, not her”
“Dad…. Please listen to me…”
“… Enough…”
Again, he slammed the door living Josie alone.
***
~ring ring~
Josh was staring at the phone. When Josie calls for the ninth time. Then he left the house ignoring the phone call. After half an hour, he received the news from his bestfriend about the world trade center attack.
~teett teett~
10:15 am,
Brian: “Josh, do you received any news about the twin towers? I hope Josie was at home with you.”
10:25 am,
Brian: “Josh do you know The South Tower of the World Trade Center collapsed? Make sure your daughter Josie with you at home.”
10:35 am,
Brian: “Josh The World Trade Center’s North Tower collapsed. I hope Josie with you right now even though I know u still… and always mad at her.”
Josh became very worried.
“Josie….”
He went home and listened to the messages that was recorded in the answering machine. He could hear Josie’s voice, telling him that she was in the world trade center. The ninth message was the last one which it stopped when the building started to collapse.
He fell to the floor.
“It is too late…”
He cried because the moment when he heard the message, the Twin Towers already crashed into a tangle of concrete, iron and rubble.
JOSIE WAS GONE AS HE WISHED.
***
“…. It was all me…”
He looks at the survivor tree. It is a Callery pear tree, the last living thing to leave Ground Zero that discovered with severe damage in the rubble of the World Trade Center, a month after September 11. After it was nursed back to life, then they brought it back here.
He closes his eyes.
“…. Dad…” A gentle voice is calling his name.
He slowly opens his eyes and he is crying in his smile.
“Josie…”
“…. Dad, I will always love you… Here, I have something to give to you…” Josie is holding her favorite porcelain given by her late grandma and when she is trying to hand it to Josh, there is a sudden violent shaking of the ground. The porcelain falls to the ground but it doesn't break, but Josie. Poof! She disappeared.
Josh can still hear Josie’s voice calling his name. After a few moments, everything suddenly become very bright and,
“Josh! Josh!” He opens his eyes and see his colleagues, Brian. Waking him up.
“Man, what are u doing here, are you dating someone or waiting for her? Huh dude, you're too old for that. Look at your hair, its turning grey. One grey hair for one lady, Let me count how much it is” Brian is trying to joke with Josh to make him happy because he knows why josh is there.
"Hahaha! Man… No! I fell asleep, that's normal for an old man like me”
***
At home, Josh sitting on Josie’s bed. His eyes is searching for Josie’s favorite porcelain.
“…. Aha! There you go.” He took the porcelain out of Josie’s favorite stuff box. There is an envelope inside the porcelain and he starts to read it.
Dear Dad,
Over the years, we have never been able to get along together. I wonder why you adore Jessa and in your eyes she is an angel. Sometimes, it drives me insane. I know my performance at school is not good and its like nothing I do is good. Everything. I still remember you compared me with Jessa, always, when we got our report cards and when we did something. Also, when you introduced me to people, you were like telling them I am the worst person ever existed. When there were people who complimented me or told you good things about me, you be like if they were my father or mother they would never can get along with me.
Yes, u started doing that since I was 9 years old. Believe me, that's hurt and I am not that innocent to not understand what you're saying. You made me growing up this way. You never realize you never give me chance to share my feeling or problems with you or help me find way to improve my self.
After Jessa died in the accident. You started to treat me worse than before and wished me to die, you always want me to die when I did a mistake.
It makes me crazy.
Dad, if you found this letter, I want to tell you I'm not hoping for anything else, you don't need to love me but for once all I want you to do is listen to me. Your daughter…
Even though my feeling always telling me you like Jessa more and plus you never tell me you love me, but I know, deep. DEEP in the bottom of your heart. I know you love us both.
Love, Josie.
“ ……. Josie.... Only if I could go back in time....”
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