Fear is an amazing thing. It turns people, who would otherwise ignore reality, into patriots. Every weekend my friends and I hang out in a parking lot just talking and goofing around. We did not have a care in the world, nothing could harm us. Then, without warning, a group of psychos killed thousands of innocent people who were minding their own business, just trying to do their jobs. In the span of a few hours, both World Trade Centers and the Pentagon were attacked and the history of America was altered forever. Our reality had been completely shattered. Guys I know, that I love, could be drafted and killed. For the first time in my life, I felt like a part of something bigger than myself.
That feeling has seemed to affect everyone. It is amazing to see completely self-absorbed people unite. American flags are plastered in every car window and on every hood and antenna in the parking lot. My friends started wearing ribbons and organizing clothing and material drives for the NYPD and NYFD. Differences were put aside in order to comfort one another. We started to gather at a NYC overlook instead of a parking lot. At the overlook we lit candles, started prayer circles and just stood by this terrible event, some of us even knew people who were there or killed.
When we woke up, September 11 none of us knew what we were about to go through. It is amazing to think that if this had never happened, we would have continued on with our self involved, closed-off lives. What did we do to deserve this is a question that I keep hearing. The truth is that we might never know. And now, as we struggle to put back the pieces of our shattered lives, we live in fear of knowing that it happened once and it could happen again at any time. Only now we are stronger and more united. We will not again let anyone shake us like that again.
By: LM
Age: 18