Relief flooded through my body as we saved another victim's life. I was surrounded by death, destruction and terror. Sirens filled the smoke-ridden air. Occasionally, you could hear blood curdling screams echoing from the chaos. Unprepared, makeshift medics scrambled from one distressed, ash covered person to another. We had seen people crushed, severed and burned for the past three hours, although it felt like an eternity.  As I graciously took my well deserved short break i noticed a small petrified figure among the rubble.  I hastily placed my drink down and rushed towards the mysterious silhouette.  A small girl stood amongst the tragedy, paralyzed by the sight. I gently nudged the child to get her attention, receiving no reaction except a whimper, "Momma". I carefully grabbed her shoulder. "Follow me, it's not safe to be out here" I gently told her. She turned to me and pleaded "Momma", she pointed out into the distance. I took me a moment to register what she was asking, " Your mother's out there?" she noded and grabbed my hand, leading me to her mother. I duly noted that when we reached the sight i needed to keep the child safe.
She halted and pointed, you could barely make out the figure under all the soot and rubble. The women was pinned under a concrete piece of wall the size of a size of a small car. A rust liquid pooled around her, as if it was a pair of wings. If I wanted to save this child's mother I had to do it fast. I swept back my sweat soaked bangs and turned to face the small girls hazel eye's. "Stay here, if you see anyone callout to them for help, got it?", she noded and I rushed to work. As I got closer I noticed the red hot steel scattered around her like a halo. I squatted next to the women, "Madam, are you awake? I am here to get you out of there." I witnessed the women's eye's dance open, "I need you to stay with me." She noded wearily  and i set to work, clearing away the halo to prevent any future obstacles. I carefully examined the cement wall the poor woman was pinned under, pondering how I was going to get her out.
"Can you move?" i questioned the women.
"Yes" she responded weakly.
"When I lift the block out from ontop of you I need you to get out from under it". Once again, she noded, this time with more life. I raised the rock and the woman squirmed free. The mother and daughter reunited in a heart-warming hug. I offered my shoulder to lean on to help the mother on the journey to the campsite I had been working at since the plane had flew into the Pentagon. Around us we could feel the heat of the flames lick around us. Once reaching camp I handed over the care of the women to a fellow medic. The small girl paused and turned to me, " What's your name?" she asked. "Benny" I responded with a smile. As she continued on her way I felt something cold trickle down my leg. There was a large dagger-like gash presumible caused by the metal he was surrounded  with along with several other cuts and bruises. "I guess I should finish my break and tend to my own wounds" i muttered to myself, chuckling.
                    ~~~~
Many days later he would receive a letter. Inside would be a messy but heartfelt drawing of a young man with a mop of dirty blond hair and seaweed green eyes standing next to a blond piggy-tailed girl who had familiar hazel eyes. Along the top it read "Benny, my hero" in scribbly handwriting. This letter would be treasured for many years to come, and a little girl would final get to see her hero after so many years of waiting.