I’ll See You Again One Day

In loving memory of those who lost their lives on 9/11.

By Austin B. Hahn

*Disclaimer: This is a fictional story.

September 11th, 2001; 2 World Trade Center (the South Tower), Manhattan, New York City

9:14 a.m.

“Hello, George? Can you hear me?”

“Helen!? I’ve been trying to call you!”

“George, I-I can’t hear you. I don’t know if you’re able to hear me!?”

“HELEN CAN YOU HEAR ME!!!???”

“I can hear you! George, listen. Have you seen anything on TV?”

“Your building has been hit by a plane! You need to get out!”

“I’m on the 88th floor. I can’t use the stairs. It’s hard to see, and it’s getting harder to breath. I don’t know how much longer I have. People are jumping out the windows.”

“Can you —”

“ — Is Mom going to be okay?” Stacey, 9, interjected.

“Is that Stacey!? Get her on the phone. We don’t have time!”

George hands her the phone.

“M-M-Mom, are you okay? What’s happening?” she asked in a quavering voice.

“My angel. I am okay. Mommy loves you so, so, so much! More than you will ever know. I am and always will be right by your side.”

Stacey starts crying. Cee Cee, 6, notices the tears start to roll down her face and grabs the phone.

“Mommy, are you not going to come home!?” Cee Cee asked frantically.

Her mother holds back her tears and pauses.

“I am with you always.”

“Mommy, I love you!” Cee Cee starts sobbing.

“I love you too sweetheart. Be strong. You’re my little sunshine. I don’t want you to cry. Mommy’s going to be alright. Can you hand the phone back to Daddy?”

Helen maintains her composure as panic ensues on the floor while smoke continues to engulf the building.

Cee Cee hands the phone back to him.

“George, can you still hear me?”

“Yes!”

“Take care of our sweet little girls. Have fun with your life. I want you to find somebody, but I’ll be waiting for you. Just because I didn’t get to grow old with you doesn’t mean that it wasn’t worth it. I love you. To the stars and beyond. Every minute of it was worth it with you, and I wouldn’t have done it any other way. I’ll see you again one day.”

“Helen! No, no, no, no! There’s got to be another way. Have you looked at all the emergency escape routes? Are you nearby an exit? Can you at least head to the top of the building to get further away from the flames?”

Helen begins to pass out from the lack of oxygen. The building heats up as the floor completely fills with smoke.

Helen drops the phone as she faints.

“HELEN!!!”

The phone line goes dead.

The South Tower building finally collapses at 9:59 a.m. after being hit by United Airlines Flight 175.

We Never Say Goodbye . . . (Part II)

Circa 2080; Antwerp, Belgium

1:59 p.m.

A young man walks into an animal hospital with a seven-week old red poodle in his arms and approaches the receptionist and vet tech at the front desk.

“Hi, excuse me miss. Someone lost this dog. I don’t know where he came from, but he’s been following me for the last ten minutes,” he told the receptionist.

Their eyes meet.

The familiarity is intense. A burning sensation of having waited a thousand lifetimes pierces their souls as they stand before each other.

They both immediately start to tear up. The receptionist, embarrassed, without even uttering a word, made a run for the break room.

“Hey, are you alright?” asked the vet tech.

“Yeah. I’m fine. I just need a minute,” she quickly replied before scurrying past the doorway.

“Is there something I can help you with sir?” the vet tech politely inquired.

“I just found this puppy. I have no idea where he came from or who it belongs to.”

“Oh. I can take him from here,” said the vet tech as she reached over the front desk to grab him. “Well, aren’t you just the cutest little guy!?” she paused and looked back up at the young man. “Do you two know each other?”

“I . . . umm —”

“It’s okay. You don’t need to explain. She’ll be out in a minute.”

The receptionist came walking out of the entrance by the front desk.

“Do I . . . do I know you?”

“I don’t know, but you . . . you look familiar. What’s your name?”

“I’m Helene, and you are . . .?”

“Georg.”

“I like that name,” she smiled.

“Thanks. I like your smile,” he replied with the utmost adoration. “Would you care to go out for coffee sometime?”

“I would like that.”

The sound of wedding bells could be heard in the distance. There’s going to be a happy ending . . .

You Are Not Someone’s Metaphor

Social media is a repository for toxic advice.

By Austin B. Hahn

Social media is often used as a tool, serving a variety of purposes: to disseminate information, to humanize brands, to set trends, and — interestingly enough — to propagate social norms. While traditional media outlets still play a role in shaping our world, there’s no questioning the influence that independent content creators such as freelance writers, vloggers, and YouTubers have garnered in nearly the last two decades. You see a tasty recipe, so you save it. You watch a touching video, so you share it. You read an inspiring quote, so you post it. With just the touch of a few buttons, you can digitally archive your life. However, while information is readily available at our fingertips, are we taking the time to assess its validity?

As a U.S. American, I know that it is not uncommon to hear or read conflicting information. What’s more, just to add to all the confusion, we’re constantly bombarded with “life advice” quotes on social media platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. Most people don’t even cite their credentials or what makes them qualified to give such advice (i.e. is this person a licensed therapist, a marriage counselor, a psychologist, etc.?) Sharing our life experiences online can serve as an introspection for ourselves and as lessons for others. What becomes problematic, is when we blindly accept what we read or solicit advice that gaslights others into thinking that a dangerous behavioral pattern is normal.

Take the quote above for example, “I was toxic to some, I was [a] blessing to others.” Although no one is perfect, and we’re all not going to be liked by everybody, in the context of an abusive relationship with an alcoholic, a drug addict, or a narcissist, this sounds like gaslighting as a way to minimize their abuse and to put them in a good light. “Others I healed, others I hurt.” Unless you’re talking to a doctor or a surgeon, there is no data to support that abusers heal people while simultaneously hurting others. Can people do terrible things, learn from them, and then go on to help others? Absolutely. What I am saying is this: ask, “Why?”

Several months ago, I found this quote, as pictured above, on Instagram. I felt compelled to respond and triggered, a word I rarely use. Here was my response:

“I noticed some people are saying, ‘What a dignified man! He can admit that he’s not always perfect,” but no one is asking, ‘Why did you engage in different behaviors with certain people?’ For example, I had a best friend who belittled and disregarded me. He was a narcissist, and I didn’t realize it for years. I often felt hurt by what he did, and I ended up being ‘the angry friend.’ I didn’t like who I was with him, and I became toxic as a result of this narcissistic friendship. With that being said, check the motivating force behind the behavior. It’s not always black and white. Some people treat others poorly behind closed doors and act nice to everyone in public. This fuels their narcissistic ego and leaves them feeling powerful. Sometimes, they’ll also backtrack and say, ‘I’m not perfect. Sorry,’ and then continue their behavior three months later because they think they’re off the hook. Other people behave poorly towards someone as a result of mistreating them (such as cheating, gaslighting, lying, manipulation, physical abuse and so forth.) While no human being is perfect, what good is someone’s apology or confession when they’re aware of what they’re doing? The next time someone admits to you their wrongdoing, pay attention to their motives for doing so and what they do afterwards. A change of behavior is the only worthwhile apology and the sincerest form of taking personal responsibility.”

There are countless self-proclaimed relationship experts, quotes, and videos giving poisonous advice that convince people to stay in toxic family systems, jobs, and relationships. Before taking advice at face value, ask yourself, “What makes this message credible, and is it informative or preachy?” (The former takes your circumstances into account and is backed by research while the latter focuses on blaming you without addressing the facts.) If you are being mistreated by someone, do not allow yourself to become gaslighted by sugar-coated rhetoric on social media, such as “love conquers all” or “there is no forgiveness without love”, and hesitate to leave. You are not someone’s metaphor.