It was 7 a.m. and I was sleepily brushing my teeth in the community bathroom of my freshman college dorm. Second week of classes. It was Tuesday. A girl burst in and grabbed my hand, pulling me into her room pointing at the TV. I stood confused. Something about her dad calling that morning and telling her there was an attack in New York. Never in my lifetime had the US been attacked on our soil in such a way. I realized we were still holding hands, staring at the TV in shock. Smoke billowed from the World Trade Center towers in New York City. I didn't even know this girl. Cara. That was her name. Everything slowed down. Completely surreal.
I finished getting ready and made my way to my first class of the day - some low level health class. The professor walked in and said "in light of the day's events, class is cancelled". Still not understanding the gravity. On my way to breakfast I noticed the doors to the large chapel/event center were open. TVs splayed the different national news channels. I sat alone, watching the events unfold before me. Both towers down, one plane into the Pentagon and a plane down in a field in Pennsylvania. I saw my friend Chad across the room, tears in his eyes. The plane in Pennsylvania went down close to his home. Too close to home. He had a hard time getting through to family, but they are ok. We hugged for a long time and he cried.
There are certain moments in life that will never be forgotten. The minute details ingrained in the mind. I pray for the families who sent their loved ones to work that day never knowing it would be the last goodbye. I pray for our nation and how we interact and are perceived globally. I pray that the pain our nation suffered will transform us in a positive and meaningful way.
