October 15, 2021. It was a sunny autumn day. The colours of the of the world had turned from a brilliant green to marvellous hues of red, orange and yellow. Jenny inhaled the crisp cool air. “I missed this”, she thought to herself. She sat down on the cold bench and reflected back to the time she was last here.

November 10, 2001. It had been a few months after the terrorist bombing of the World Trade Centre. A day of so much sorrow and fear. Jenny took a seat at her vanity, staring at her reflection in the mirror. The scars so visible, one across her thin right shoulder where a piece of metal had pierced right through her. Another scar under her chin, about 2 inches long.

She pulls a red knit cardigan over her black silk tank top and start dabbing her makeup over the scar on her chin.

Jenny tries to shake off the memories from that day of 9/11. She still has nightmares and sleepless nights.

One year ago she met this dashing young man and fell in love. Luckily for her he loved her back. But now he’s gone and things will never be the same. He was one of the lives lost when the towers crumbled and her scars will forever be reminders of her lost love.

Jenny grabbed her wool coat from the closet on her way out. She walked down the steep stairs from her 5th floor apartment and saw the yellow cab waiting out front for her. She hopped in the back seat and told the driver to take her to the cemetery.

When she arrived at her destination , she paid the driver and told him to keep the change. She got out and walked on the grass. She knelt down beside a headstone covered with the fallen autumn leaves. With one swipe of her hand, she brushed off the dead brown leaves. Jenny looked at the headstone which read:

James Jacob Peterson

May 24, 1975 - September 11, 2001

Jenny’s eyes start to water. A tear rolls down her face leaving a black streak from her mascara. “JJ”, she sobs, “these past few months have been torture. Life hasn’t been the same. I miss you so much. I can’t stay here anymore.” She holds back her tears. “I have to leave. My life is no longer here. I can’t stay in this city without you. I’m going home to San Diego.” She takes a deep breath, “I love you”.

She left the city that day and had not returned till now. She sat on the bench in Central Park, thinking back to happy times she spent with her JJ.