- The Views and the Memories
- The Last Day
The Last View
Leaving 68
The Stairwell
The Sky Lobby
Back to the Stairwell
Out of the Stairwell
Out of the Trade Center
To Midtown
Going Home
- Some Questions and Answers
I follow a large group of people into the continuation of the north stairwell. It is very crowded now so the stairwell has become a traffic bottleneck. We are moving more slowly now – one flight down, left U-turn, another flight down, next floor.
I notice an elderly man who is being helped down the stairs. I recognize him; I see him occasionally on the 68th floor, doing maintenance work. He groans with almost every step. His left hand is on his chest over his heart; his right arm is wrapped around the shoulder of a younger man. The young man’s left arm is wrapped around the older man’s waist and, with his right hand, he holds the railing as he steps down. The young man is not dressed like a security guard; he might be a co-worker or a friend, or maybe he’s a stranger who happened to be nearby when the older man needed help. The width of the stairwell normally allows only two people on a step but, with the older man leaning against the younger and moving very slowly, there is room for a third person to pass on the left. I pass them and continue down.
I see a woman who is being helped by a man. I recognize her also – she works in the cafeteria.
The man holds the railing with his right hand and helps the woman with his left.
Every step looks painful for her.
The pair is moving very slowly so others pass on the left, one by one.
The crowd around me keeps changing as people continue to merge into the stairwell. For such a crowded area, people are being unusually patient and polite, allowing others to merge in front of them without any pushing or bumping or complaining! Some of the people are overburdened by the loads they are carrying. Others offer assistance.
Now there is a middle-aged woman behind me who says that her legs hurt and she needs to stop. A slightly younger-looking man, who is walking near her, offers to carry her but she declines. The man assures her that he is capable of carrying her down the steps but the woman still declines the offer; she just wants to stop and rest for a while. She stops on the next landing and talks to a security guard who is waiting there.
Now I feel an amazing peacefulness here in the stairwell - the peace of God.
It is completely comforting but the thought of it is overwhelming.
My throat feels tight from trying not to cry.
I believe that God is always present but I am surprised that it feels so obvious here;
we don't appear to be in danger at this point.
On the other hand,
it would explain the extraordinary compassion that I see in the stairwell.
Now I notice a young woman who is one step ahead of me and to my right. Her breathing is very heavy – it sounds like she is in trouble. Her breathing keeps getting louder, as if she is becoming more and more distressed. I doubt there is anything I can do for her. My throat still feels tight and it’s hard for me to talk, so I tap her on the left arm to get her attention. At the touch, she jerks suddenly and gasps, as if startled, and then she lifts her left hand slightly in a gentle “stop” gesture. I ask her if she needs help. She shakes her head and says “no”. Now her breathing seems normal! She looks completely calm now as she focuses on the steps in front of her. As more people merge into the stairwell, the young woman disappears into the crowd.
My calf muscles are getting tight. They probably would have started hurting earlier but I had
a workout last week which was unexpectedly vigorous. I helped my daughter move into her
college dormitory room on the 5th floor of a building with no elevator! At the time, I did not
appreciate all that stair-climbing, but now I do. I’m stronger now. I keep walking.
Now I am feeling hot and a little dizzy.
Some sweaters and light jackets have been left in landing areas.
I look back at the people behind me; one woman’s face is flushed.
Yes, it is definitely getting hot in the stairwell but I am not going to faint.
I am going to get out of here!
A woman, several steps ahead, pulls a package of moist towelettes out of her purse.
She gives some of them to the people around her saying
“here, put it on your face – it’ll make you feel cooler”.
She passes more of them back for people behind her.
Continue: Out of the Stairwell