Short Story - No Ordinary Day

“Opportunities like this don’t come along every day,” Darren Williams reminded himself, straightening his tie in front of his hotel mirror. He ran his fingers through his hair. An edgy rush of tension surged through his body. Calm down.

One last time Darren flicked through his proposal. Four years of heart and soul for sale, on a few simple white pages. He thought of his wife, Alana back home in Australia and the sacrifices they’d both made. Images of his two young daughters danced across the landscape of his mind. He remembered their hugs and savoured the memory of their wet kisses on his cheeks. Darren checked his watch, it was time to go. No turning back. He was ready to make his mark on the world.

At eight fourteen exactly Darren stepped into the busy city street. He didn’t notice the doorman wish him a good day or the slight crisp breeze brush against his face. All his senses were fully arrested and attuned like a jungle sniper. He was set to make a fortune.

On the ninety-second floor Darren was ushered into Globecom’s crowded boardroom. Executives in darks suits hushed as the fresh-faced Brisbane boy began his pitch. Despite feeling light years out of his comfort zone, the first eight minutes flowed effortlessly. As Darren paused to sip from his water glass, a sound drew his attention in another direction.

At the far end of the room Darren’s eyes became fixed on the wall clock. With each tick it became louder. Soon, every deafening stroke reverberated through his body. Is this a joke? he thought, looking around but no one else seemed to notice. 8.40am Focus.

Darren scanned his proposal searching for his next point only to discover the words looked encrypted. He blinked and it set off a slide show of images of his family - weeping. Something had to be wrong at home. His stomach churned, his head, now completely held hostage by a plague of fearful thoughts, left Darren only one option. Stuffing his proposal into his briefcase he excused himself and left before he could change his mind.

Moments later, Darren stepped out into the autumn sunshine. Dialing home, his breath lay imprisoned in his chest aching to escape as he nervously awaited a reply.

“Hello?”
“Lanie, are you okay? Are the girls okay?”
“We’re fine. The girls are sound asleep. Darren, it’s the middle of the night here, what’s wrong?” Deep regret blind-sided Darren’s senses as the realization dawned that they were safe but he’d just cost them everything.
“Argh! I blew it.”
“Hey, don’t worry, there’ll be….”
“Don’t say that!" he snapped. "Everything was riding on this meeting. This was our dream, our future Alana.”
“No Darren, you and me - our family, that’s our future.” She was right. More than ever he just wanted to go home.

Darren walked a block to clear his head. All around, the crowded pavements bustled with people hurrying to get to work on time. It seemed almost comical that their day was just beginning and his was already over and it wasn’t even nine o’clock.

Without warning, a sound like a freight train careening out of control amplified through the air. BOOM! An explosion rocked the atmosphere. Shaken, Darren craned his neck to examine the skyline. Flames violently engulfed the office building where just minutes earlier he stood pitching his proposal. Suddenly it was clear; this was no ordinary day and it was one Darren Williams would never forget – Tuesday, September 11, 2001.

© 2010 Philippa Vette