story4415.xml

story4415.xml

born-digital

story

yes

no

2002-09-11

I happen to work next to Cleveland Hopkin's International Airport. It was a typical light hearted day at our office. I had just gotten to work, turned on my computer when we heard the news. Not knowing the severity of the collision, but still very uneasy, we continued to go on with our day. Minutes later, we heard of another plane crashing into the second tower. Reality hit that this was not an accident. Cries carried throughout the building of co workers who had friends or relatives that worked at the WTC. As we all squeezed into a hallway to watch the television broadcast, all that could be heard were our gasps and cries as the first building collapsed. Then the second. I can't remember If the Pentagon was hit prior to this or after. It felt like a nightmare. Some of us went outside to contain ourselves. How eriee it was to listen to the silence of the air for the first time ever. Not a plane was taking off and only a few were landing. I couldn't stand not knowing what was going to happen next. Were there more out there? I needed to be with my family. I left work not caring what the consequences were. I just remembered how I prayed all of the way home.
Later that day, I heard that one of the highjacked flights had flown directly over Cleveland.