September 11, 2001
Created | Updated Feb 13, 2002
Darren was waiting at my house when I returned home from work. He peered through the windows looking anxious, and when I saw the expression on his face I knew something terrible had happened.
“Have you seen the news?” he asked. I shook my head. “New York has been attacked.”
I frowned in confusion. “What do you mean, attacked?”
“The World Trade Center is gone. Just gone.”
I shook my head again. That was impossible. Nothing could make those towers just disappear.
We went inside and I switched on the TV, and what unfolded there was unbelievable. Time after time they re-played the scene; two passenger jets crashed into the towers. Then, later, the towers fell, collapsing in on themselves like paper, leaving nothing but a pillar of dust and ash.
“My God! Benny works in that building!”
I could not tear myself away from the television and it’s continuous repeating of the disaster, but it did not feel real. I felt as though I was watching a movie, half-expecting to see Bruce Willis save the world again.
Over and over, I watched the towers burn and fall. The newscasters were talking but I barely heard what they said. All I could think of was my friend Benny, who should have been there.
After an hour I tried to call his home but I couldn’t get through. It soon became clear that the devastation was so great that communication was next to impossible. All I could do was wait and watch, numb with horror, while Darren made coffee.
At six o’clock I switched on the computer, hoping that there may be some good news, but fearing that the news may be bad. It never took so long to connect and download my e-mail as it did that day.
I froze when I saw the e-mail from Benny’s girlfriend. No subject line, no clue to hint what the news might be.
Deep breath.
Click.
“We’re OK,” she said. “Benny wasn’t in work this morning. We’re all safe, now heading upstate. Will talk to you later.”
For the first time since hearing the news, I cried.
“Have you seen the news?” he asked. I shook my head. “New York has been attacked.”
I frowned in confusion. “What do you mean, attacked?”
“The World Trade Center is gone. Just gone.”
I shook my head again. That was impossible. Nothing could make those towers just disappear.
We went inside and I switched on the TV, and what unfolded there was unbelievable. Time after time they re-played the scene; two passenger jets crashed into the towers. Then, later, the towers fell, collapsing in on themselves like paper, leaving nothing but a pillar of dust and ash.
“My God! Benny works in that building!”
I could not tear myself away from the television and it’s continuous repeating of the disaster, but it did not feel real. I felt as though I was watching a movie, half-expecting to see Bruce Willis save the world again.
Over and over, I watched the towers burn and fall. The newscasters were talking but I barely heard what they said. All I could think of was my friend Benny, who should have been there.
After an hour I tried to call his home but I couldn’t get through. It soon became clear that the devastation was so great that communication was next to impossible. All I could do was wait and watch, numb with horror, while Darren made coffee.
At six o’clock I switched on the computer, hoping that there may be some good news, but fearing that the news may be bad. It never took so long to connect and download my e-mail as it did that day.
I froze when I saw the e-mail from Benny’s girlfriend. No subject line, no clue to hint what the news might be.
Deep breath.
Click.
“We’re OK,” she said. “Benny wasn’t in work this morning. We’re all safe, now heading upstate. Will talk to you later.”
For the first time since hearing the news, I cried.
