story8138.xml

story8138.xml

born-digital

story

yes

no

2002-09-25

My new life was to start on september 12th 2001. I was to fly to New Hampshire to meet up with the love of my life and we were going to drive across country back here to sacramento and start our lives together. I was asleep in bed when I got the call that put my life on hold and made time stand still. Safe in my bed I hear the words "basically, the world trade center is gone". It wouldnt sink in. I run to my television and turn it on and the images took the wind out of me. Im 21 years old, people of my generation have enjoyed such luxury when it comes to national saftey. We didnt have nuclear worries, or bombing drills at school, we were around for the Gulf war, but at an age where we didnt really understand it. Wars were fought away from us and we were here safe and spoiled by living without fear. When I saw the destruction on that morning, all of this crumbled and it finally sank in. The stories that older people would tell me about Pearl Harbor, and how I never really understood their fear or their sadness. Now I understand. There is a great mourning in my heart, even a year later, for those who gave their lives. They were a sacrifice, pawns to a cruel and heartless killer, but they will not be forgotten, their lives will not be forsaken.
On september 12th the planes were grounded, the skies were silent, the air felt wrong, the world felt wrong. I was numb, I was mourning and my dreams and plans were on hold.
But I refuse to live in fear. I refuse.