story8322.xml

story8322.xml

born-digital

story

yes

no

2002-10-02

As I walked into first period, I noticed that everyone was watching the two televisions we had in the room. I turned to my friend and said "what happened?" since I had neither listened to the radio, nor watched television that fateful morning. "Two planes hit the Twin Towers in New York" she replied, eyes still glued to the scene on the television. Awestruck, I sat down at my desk and searched for words. "My gosh" I slowly said, not really knowing what I was feeling as New York seemed so far away. Throughout the day, I either watched this tragedy on the news or discussed it with the people around me. When I came home, I spoke with my parents and younger brother as well. No one could believe that this was real.
People never expect these occurrences to actually happen in our time. We read about them in history and think "what a shame," but it never truly sinks in that it was an actual event where real lives were taken. Until, that is, it happens to us. Like the old saying "you never know what you have until you no longer have it," we never appreciated our freedom and security until it was threatened to be taken away from us. In one instant, our lives were changed forever and we were forced to let go of all the hate and anger and unite as one nation, under God. Together, we became a light through all the darkness, a sun through all the rain, and the ones who cast upon the lost a hope through all the pain.