September 11th 2011, sitting here watching my two-year-old son play; worried that the world, at any minute, could crash around us. A fear I never thought I would have until ten years ago. As a high school senior, life was carefree and held many possibilities. Until Biology class at 8am, we sat listening to the teacher speak our TV was on to CNN and I saw a bunch of smoke pouring from a building. The entire class was now watching and the teacher turned up the volume just as the second plane hit the tower. People on the TV were screaming and running. With no idea as to what happened, the bell rang and we ushered off to our next class.
Safety is not something you should have to question. In this country, it is a God given right, something we fought to keep, but had never lost. Now it is gone and it may never come back. When I drive my son places there, it is in the back of my mind. Could today be another day that the terrorists attack, this time will it be Florida? I never went off to a university, have seen many friends changed by the face of war, and I hate turning on the news.
I am now a single mother and full time college student. My days stay very busy, however never busy enough that I forget for one second that our safety has been questioned. September 11, 2001 changed life, for good or bad I may never know. I am more careful now, I pay attention to minor details and hold my son close. Tragic events in people’s lives touch me to the core. I can relate to the sadness and heartbreak they feel. For my heart was broken once ten years ago, a break so deep that it rattled my core.