“Since I’ve been back all I want to do is remember it. For the longest time I had to keep it all bottled up inside. Now I don’t have to.”
“I’m glad we can all be here together,” said Karen.
“Me too,” Carmella added.
“Carmella, I do remember that time. Mrs. Cooper had already lost one son to violence a few short months earlier. However, when that phone rang and Daniel was on the other end I wasn’t thinking about her pain. All I thought about was the fact that it wasn’t my daughter on the other end of that line. I was so jealous of that woman. The fact that she had been spared losing another child meant nothing to me. I wanted my child to come home.”
“Mom, I feel horrible that I put you through that.”
“Baby girl, that’s all water under the bridge. You did what you had to do. The important thing is you’re here now.”
“I am. I feel like I owe it everyone who perished to be here. I still don’t really know who saved me. What I do know is that whoever it was saved me twice. I can’t truly thank him the way I would like to, so I’ll have to remember all those who lived and died in an effort to save people like me.”
“Hey, ladies. I’m so glad you could make it.”
“Hey, Daniel,” Carmella responded.
“Mrs. Whitmore, my mom will be so happy to see you.”
“I can’t wait to see her. It’s been a long time.”
“Hello, Damita.”
“Hello, Daniel.”
Daniel kissed Damita on the cheek and lingered there for a while.
“It’s so nice to see you,” he whispered in her ear.
“It’s nice to see you, too,” Damita said, smiling.
As they separated, Daniel’s mother was approaching.
“It’s so nice to see us all together again. The last time we were all together, Damita and Daniel were not with us. Now they are. I say that makes this much more pleasant, even under the circumstance. That warrants praise. I would like to lead us in a prayer.”
Mrs. Cooper grabbed her son’s hand and Damita’s and everyone else followed suit. They all bowed their heads.
“Heavenly Father, we thank You for leading Damita and Daniel safely home. Blessed are You, loving Father, for all Your gifts to us. Blessed are You for giving us family and friends to be with us in times of joy and sorrow, to help us in days of need, and to rejoice with us in moments of celebration. Father, we praise You for Your Son Jesus, who knew the happiness of family and friends, and in the love of Your Holy Spirit. Blessed are You, Heavenly Father, forever and ever. Amen.”
After the group had prayed, Daniel led them all to the FDNY Memorial Wall. The fifty-six foot long, bronze wall was a tribute to the three hundred forty-three firefighters who lost their lives on nine-eleven. The wall displayed the names of every single active FDNY member who was killed in the collapse of the Towers.
It was important to Damita to read all the names. She felt it was important to offer her respect by recognizing every name that was displayed.
“Feel free to take it all in at your own pace. It’s important to me that I acknowledge every name,” Daniel said.
Damita glanced at Daniel. They shared a knowing look and both smiled.
As their group examined the length of the wall, Carmella pointed out one name in particular.
“Hey, guys, look at this. Isn’t this weird? Daniel, this guy has the same name as your brother, except it’s in reverse. Instead of Brandon Cooper, this guy is Cooper (‘Coop’) Daniel.”
Damita stood there, staring at the name, her mouth agape.
“Oh my God! Coop! I get it now. I finally get it. How could I not know? I sensed it in his spirit. I should have known. Who else would go to the end of the earth to save me?”
They all stood staring at Damita. They weren’t sure what she was talking about.
“Daniel, Mom, Carmella, can’t you all see? It was Brandon who saved me. It was Brandon.”
Damita touched her hand to the bronze wall; traced the letters in the name with the tip of her finger and said the words she hadn’t had an opportunity to say.
“Goodbye, Brandon. I will always love you.”