Before this chapter, I'd just like to ask for a moment of your time. 10 years ago, America was targeted and assaulted by a group of 19 terrorists. They hijacked planes from United and American Airlines, their main goal to kill people. Two planes crashed into the World Trades Centers in New York, killing an estimated total of 2,753 people in New York. Another crashed into the Pentagon, killing another 184, and the last one, which authorities assume were heading for Chicago's Sear's Tower, crashed into a field in Shanksville, Pennsylvania when passengers took control of the cockpit. The estimated death total was 2,977, excluding the hijackers. September 11 marks the ten year anniversary of this tragedy, and I can only ask that you take at least a minute or two out of your day to remember the lost mothers, fathers, brothers, sisters, children, husbands, wives, grandparents, aunts, uncles, friends, neighbors, mentors and civilians that lost their lives. All in all, remember how the world came together in that time, and somehow, someway, make sure the ones that have perished have not died in vain. Thank you so much.
Remember 9/11
They burst into the emergency room of the nearest hospital they could find. Brian rushed to the front desk to explain the situation while the boys tried to wake Allie up. The place was surprisingly empty so it was their perfect timing that they had showed up. A nurse came to take her and the boys followed only to be stopped at the door.
"Sorry, boys," she giggled, in her French accent, awestruck at the Beatles. "No one beyond this point." An older nurse came by and glared at the other one.
"Stop your girly snickerin'," she told her in a thick Irish accent. "This is their child we're talking about here." She took Allie from the other nurse. "Come now, lads. Follow me, you can wait by the little lass's door." The boys and Brian followed her quickly. She stopped them at a door.
"I'm afraid you'll have to stop here," she apologized. "Someone'll be out to speak with ya in a little bit." She whisked away behind the door, taking Allie with her. The boys sat down and Brian told them that he was going to cancel the next day's concert and press conference. He left the car for them and took a cab home.
Hours later, John, Paul and Ringo slumbered on each other while George paced and looked through the door's window from time to time. He heard a woman's frantic voice from the outside lobby and a different nurse led her to where he was. The nurse had a boy on a small stretcher while his beautiful mother followed behind, wringing her hands distraughtly. The woman continued to go after her, but the nurse told her she could not go beyond the door.
"But that's my baby!" She wailed in an Scouse accent. The nurse apologized and kept going, the door swinging closed behind her. The pretty lady put her head in her hands and moaned loudly and despairingly. George approached her slowly.
"Excuse me, miss. Are you alright?" he put a hand on her back and she lifted her head, gasping at him. He realized that it was the same woman who had challenged Allie's mother earlier that week.
"You again." Suddenly, her hazel eyes widened in realization. "You're," she stuttered, tripping backwards a step. "You're George Harrison!"
"I am." She looked at the others, her pretty hazel eyes widening.
"And they're the rest of the Beatles!"
"They are." She blushed daintily.
"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to make you uncomfortable." She apologized.
"Not a problem, love. But since you know my name, I think it's only fair that I learn yours." He said charmingly. Her face flushed again.
"My name is Matilda. Matilda Andrews." They shook hands. "My son, his name is Leo. He had these headaches and he just…he just collapsed." She choked on tears. George rubbed her back sympathetically.
"My Allie wasn't feeling too well either. She's so little, just any little thing wrong with her I worry about, you know?" She nodded.
"I know the feeling." They chatted for a long time, gradually getting to know each other, when there was a loud, girly shriek.
"No! I want my father! Get that thing away from me!" she screamed. The boys shook awake. "No! Georgie! Ah!"
A frazzled looking nurse stuck her head out of the door. "Sir? If you could just follow me." George was already at the door. Allison was desperately writhing away from a nurse who had a needle in her hand. Her eyes locked on George.
"George!" she cried. He ran to her side.
"Allie, baby, calm down. Calm down." He told her and stroked her hair. She cried loudly and her head became dizzy. She quieted down when her stomach clenched.
"Shh," he lulled and the nurse put an IV in her arm. She winced and whimpered.
"Hold still, dear," said the nurse. She slipped a needle into the child's arm. George started to get up.
"No," Allie fought weakly, grabbing his tie. "Georgie, stay please. I need you." He kissed her forehead.
"I'll try, darling." She nodded off with an IV still pumping nutrients into her veins. A doctor came over to tell George that he was allowed to stay for as long as he'd like because he was her legal guardian. George thanked him and remembered Leo's worried mother.
"Excuse me, doctor, might I ask if Leo Andrews is alright? His mother is fretting." The doctor informed him that Leo was awake and being kept overnight for observational purposes. Thanking him once more, he rushed out to tell the boys that he was staying overnight and they should head back. They gave him reassuring smiles and pats on the shoulder, promising to be back first thing in the morning.
"George," he heard a worried voice call. He turned to see Matilda behind him. "Have you heard anything about Leo? I don't mean to bother you, but I'm just so worried and-," George cut her off.
"He's awake and doing just fine. He's staying overnight for observation." He smiled. She let out a sigh of relief.
"Thank you. That boy is my life."
"I understand. I believe you can wait with him and I'm going to be with Allie. Care to join me?" He offered his arm to her which she shyly took.
"Thank you," she told him, pushing her golden-brown hair back. They walked into the room and Leo cried out to her.
"Mummy!" She released George's arm and ran to her son, fussing over him. She put her arms around him and kissed his forehead while George walked over to sit next to Allie.
"Leo, baby, do you feel better?" she asked worriedly. He nodded and yawned. "Okay, honey. Go to sleep. Mommy will be here." He fell asleep quickly and the two parents were left in silence.
George cleared his throat. "If you don't mind me asking, how old are you? You don't look quite old enough to be a mother." Matilda smiled sadly.
"I just turned twenty and Leo's five. I was a real delinquent." She said ruefully. "We've been on our own and we just came to Paris to visit Leo's father. We're going back to London next week."
She talked about her life and George looked on in wonder. She was so pretty and shy and lovely in every way. She pushed her auburn hair back when she was nervous and scratched under her eye with her middle finger when she blushed. Her hazel eyes lightened and darkened at different points in her story, always sparkling. Her smile was muted, very classy and eloquent, also spread across her face. When she laughed, the room seemed to brighten and become happier. He was amazed at just how beautiful she was and was completely distracted by her.
Little did he know he was falling in love.