Chapter 2-1

My whole body jerked as I was thrown backwards, both feet left the ground and with an almighty crash I hit the pavement, my head recoiled smashing against the tarmac. Thick cloulds of grey and black dust engulfed me, the ground shook and glass flew everywhere. Searing pain ran through my body as the glass ripped through my clothes and into my skin, all I could hear was ringing in my ears and I didn't know what was up or down for what seemed like forever. Eventually I managed to scramble to my feet and slowly my hearing started to return. As I looked around me all I could see was dust covered people crying, screaming and running about, there were police, ambulances and fire trucks everywhere. As I looked at the department store in front of me all I could see was flames licking out of the now shattered windows, creeping up the side of the building, like they had purpose and direction, spread all over the road was charred remains of car parts and window dummies, still in a daze I tried to move, but my feet wouldn't move, all I could do was stand and stare, "What had happened here?" I thought to myself.

Then, in a flash, it hit me, Jane! She was in that store, from somewhere my strength returned as I ran towards the burning building, I got within a hundred yards and was grabbed by 2 policemen. "Sorry son" one of them said, "Step back." I fought against them struggling to get free, "My girlfriend" I shouted "She's in there!". They dragged me back to a safe distance, "If she was we can sort it out, let these guys do their job." He said calmly. They took me to the back of a waiting ambulance and sat me on the back. 2 paramedics wrapped me in a blanket and started to ask me question, I can't remember what they said, the only thing I could think of was my beloved Jane. As they tended my wounds, I kept repeating the day over and over in my mind.

We had come into the city to buy Christmas presents, our first Christmas together, she had suggested we bought a few small things from the big posh shop, just for a laugh, I said I would wait outside and have a smoke, I walked off to the side road as she headed off to the main doors, I blew her a kiss and lit up. That was the last thing I remember. The paramedic told me, that apart from bruises I was fine and I should give the police my details and head home, I don't remember doing that, but I must of, because they came to see me a few weeks later. I remember finding myself pushing through the crowds trying to get away from it all, some how I acquired a cup of tea, how very British. As I pushed my way through the crowds, tears streaming down my face, I started to pick up on the gossip and chatter, it was an IRA car bomb. As I heard this my heart began to race and my emotions started to flood through my system, questions like why us, why now ran a million times through my head.

I had stopped, the crowds were so thick I couldn't move, I strained my neck up to see if I could plan a route out of this madness. I looked up, straight into the the eyes of my darling Jane, she was alive! I fought and pushed my way to her, as we met she looked at my tattered clothes and burst into tears. She had changed her mind, at the last minute and gone into the shop next door. I thought I'd lost her forever. We headed home.