story948.xml

story948.xml

born-digital

story

yes

no

2002-07-30

I work in lower manhatttan and that day was suppose to be just an ordinary day. My day usually starts off with taking my son to school and then coming to work. I am always early to work but not on this day. My plans were to drop off my son and when I get off the station on Fulton Street, proceed to Borders at the World Trade Center to purchase a few books to read. I usually get to lower manhattan around 8:30 a.m. but on this day, God must have been watching me because my train was delayed and I arrived at 8:45. I still did not know what was going on. I proceeded to go outside and I realized that it was too late to go to Borders when I saw so many people looking up at the World Trade Center. I couldn't see from where I was standing so I crossed the street and then I saw the fire. I heard people talking about how it was a small plane or a helicopter. I was just stunned. I said a prayer for all those people trapped on those floors. I called my girlfriend who is a cop and told her what was going on. She instantly told me to go to work and stay there. She told me that it was an act of terrorist. I told her no way but she yelled at me and I listened. As I walked to work I started to cry (like I am doing now)and wondered why this is happening. I stayed in front of my work place to see my other co-workers. I didn't realize what time it was when I heard a loud sound and a big red fire ball just exploded from the other tower. I screamed and cried. I will never forget those colors as long as I live. I got on my cell phone and called my mother which to my surprise she had no clue as to what was going on. She has a really nice view of the towers so I told her to just look out her window and as she did, I heard her yell and cry. She asked me how was I getting home and all I told her that if I have to swim the East River then that is how I'm getting home. Time passed by very slowly for me. I was still looking up at the towers crying my eyes out when I felt the street shake. I looked up and before my very eyes I saw the first tower crumple down to dust. Lots of people were running towards me but all I could do was just fall to the ground and cry some more. Luckily for me, my co-worker was in better shape than I was and grabbed me by the arm and dragged me to safety. All I remember seeing was a huge big ball of dust coming my way and I did not care. I was very scared and frightened that to this very day, I still have nightmares. Anyway, after a few more hours I walked over the Manhattan Bridge, walked over 1 mile to my mother's house and collapsed from exhaustion in her arms. That is my memory of 9/11.