story1253.xml

story1253.xml

born-digital

story

yes

no

2002-08-19

I could tell by the sound of her voice that something was wrong. My mom left me two messages (from New York) while I was in the shower. It was my cousin who reached me first and asked if I was watching TV. Hearing the concern in her voice I know it had to do with my brother and the Trade Center.

I will never forget my hysteria and fear I had when I saw what happened. I was there in 93, I knew what he was going through. Calls flooded my home, my dad came to my house to be with me. We ran out for cigarettes, a moment in church, and then we were back watching the rest of the chaos unfold.

The first tower came down and my dad screemed. I couldn't watch and I couldn't remember which one was 2 WTC. Then the second tower came down. I knew he couldn't have had enough time from 69th floor. We both screamed, cried, panicked. I threw the phone across the room, punched 2 holes in my wall, curled up in a ball on the floor and cried hyserically.

I called my other family members home. We were preparing for the worst and 3 hours later, we found out he had made it out in time. Enought time to run up to Bleekcer Street before the first tower fell.

We spoke at 6pm and I cried my eyes out afterwards because it was what he didn't say that made me knew he witnessed so much. Roy and I stayed up till 2:30 watching it over and over again from bed, probably still in shock.

In the days following, I found out I lost a former co-worker and high school aquaintance. I almost lost my brother. I've changed some in ways I cannot explain. I used to love to fly and did often. I won't now. I don't want to anymore.