story2861.xml

story2861.xml

born-digital

story

yes

no

2002-09-11

This may sound strange, but the morning of September 11, 2001, I woke up to the humming of airplane engines getting closer and closer. I shot out of bed, my heart pounding through my chest, bracing myself for the crash and then an explosion, but I heard nothing. The world outside my apartment was so absolutely silent and still that you most likely could hear a pin drop. I live in Oak Park, IL - a town 15 minutes West of Chicago. There was absolutely no way I could have heard anything happening. And I did not know that anything had happened. I hopped into the shower and went about my normal routine. I was almost finished getting ready when my roommates boyfriend was pounding on my door telling me to come and watch what was on television. He explained that an airplane had crashed into the World Trade Center. All I could think of was that this was what I had heard in the morning. He literally had to shake me to explain that he was talking about the World Trade Center. All I kept thinking in my head was Sears Tower - Sears Tower. I was certain that this had happened in Illinois and I was even more positive that I had heard this that very morning around 7:00 a.m. But this was not the case. The first plane did not even hit until after that! After I finally calmed down and realized what was happening, I ran to the television just in time to see the second plane crash. The rest of the morning was a blur. I remember being at work and getting nothing accomplished. I remember our boss sending some of us home. I remember sitting on the couch the entire day watching T.V. and stuffing our faces in fear that this would be our last meal. I remember hugging my fiance like I have never hugged him for hours that night. I remember desperately trying to get in touch with all of my loved ones (friends, family). I was eventually successful (very late in the evening), and lucky for me, no one that I knew had been harmed or killed. But the day was ruined for me, and it took a while for time to heal. Not only was I completely sick to my stomach over what had happened, but a bit disturbed by my moment of clairvoyance. No one that I tell ever believes me (unless it is someone I know really well - because I have had similar experiences before), so I won't be offended if there are any incredulous readers out there. But this DID happen. I wish to God that it didn't, and I wish that if I were given this "talent" that would be something I could have done about it, but what could I have done? Would you have listened to me?