Pain Leave-Nine One One

September 11, 2001 appeared as another day, to whisk off to work, for many people. Who could imagine such horrors that would befall us that day?

Today, we will gather to remember the loss and bravery of citizens of the United States of America that became victims to horrible acts of Terrorism. People and families from around the world and allied friends of the United States, will stand together as one and remember these people. I share my own untold family story of that day.

Eight years ago, today, I got a call. ‘Turn on the T.V., is that real? ’ I turned on the television to watch and hear of the planes that hit the World Trade Centre Twin Towers. I was shocked at hearing , ‘again, this is live, oh my god.’ My own thoughts were of ‘No, no, that doesn’t happen here,’ and stepping backwards shaking my head, saying ‘No, no,’ in disbelief. My own tears started falling and I sat on the floor, shaking my head, crying hard.

I have a family that’s very close knit. My mother reports monthly when hearing from our various cousins, aunts and uncles, that are scattered across Canada and the United States. I looked at the telephone and dreaded having to call home. I sat and cried through every news channel reporting the same scene over and over again. It was real and not a hoax and I had to call home.

I’m the eldest daughter and considered the most strong and steady. I waited till the end of the work day because everybody would be home. Strange thought when I think of it now. I drank a big glass of water, took a deep breath and called home. I live 1200+ km from my parents and had no idea what I would hear but needed to hear that everything was okay, including our family in New York. I dreaded having to make this call. Deep breath. Dial.

I could hear the T.V. and voices in the background. My mother answered the telephone and she was in distress and my father got on the other line. ‘Can you please come home? We need you.’ Never in my life did I ever expect such a request. Usually I am the one calling home saying to them, ‘I just need to hear your voice.’

The news was that some of our own relatives were missing and we couldn’t talk long. They were waiting for reports from my uncle, cousin, other aunts and uncles about our missing cousin and aunt. Calls were being exchanged between Toronto, Montreal and New York and the phone line had to be free. It was news that I did not want to hear but quietly agreed to come home and I hung up the phone. Again, I broke down, knelt on the floor and started crying.

The scene at my parents house was unsettling. My mother was in a state of sorrow, my father and brother grim but staying strong. Everybody was pacing staying near the phone. It took some time to get home but I was here and hugged my parents. Days were spent hovering around the telephone which rang all hours of the day and night. Reports that nobody could get through to this number or that one and there was still no news of our missing relatives.

The request for me to come home by my father was because he had business overseas and could not cancel it. He didn’t want my mother left alone as my brother had his own family and had to oversee the business and my younger sister was too distraught at seeing our parents in distress. I was asked to stay near my mother during this crisis and do my best to keep her calm, be a source of distraction and comfort. I am strong, dependable, and my parents daughter. Deep breath. I have a duty to fulfill. I could hear my mother cry that night before my dad left. She was worried his flight would get blown up too and him forever lost to the Atlantic ocean.

I always stayed nearby and would listen to my mother being strong for her brother in New York and watch her break down other days. His daughter worked with clients at the Towers and our aunt worked at a office under the Towers. Nobody knew where they were. Communication at the hospitals was next to impossible. One point in our favor was that my cousin married a doctor and he would call to report when he could. He reported the hospitals were busy with casualties and all medical personnel were busy and everybody using the phones..

Travel and communication was next to impossible for my uncle, with the search and rescue and medical traffic. He was trying to go and check his daughters work place and apartment. I would hear my mother cry at nights in her room when she thought I was asleep. I cried quietly in my own room when hearing her pain. I hate crying because it gives me such headaches.

In closing, our story ends with us learning, that my cousin was frozen in shock watching the second tower getting hit. Somebody had pulled her to safety but she had been hit and injured with falling debris. She didn’t realize the tower she was standing outside, had also been hit. We are eternally grateful to this person for pulling her to safety. A paramedic and friend would later report her condition and whereabouts to her husband and which hospital she had been taken. It no longer mattered which hospital to take casualties as this was a major crisis.

News about our aunt was that she was stuck in Istanbul trying to fly back but her flight was under bomb threats therefore delayed. She had been unable to call and report to family due to the busy telephone lines. Eight days had passed before we were able to get the news. There was still tension and worry with my mother until my father safely returned home. I stayed a month with them.

I didn’t cry during the days with my mother. I stayed close and did what I could to provide emotional support and stay strong. The shock and disbelief has been replaced with a deep sadness and a fragile hope that such acts of terrorism will never see our lands again. Even I will stand up to fight if needed.

I only ask, that we please support our leaders and let our military seek out the terrorists who continue to seek opportunities to orchestrate and commit such horrid acts. Never let this happen to us again. I stand now and send my prayers for those lives taken, the surviving families, search and rescue teams, our military, their courage and strength. God Bless and keep us safe.

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Article(C)2009 - 2011 Dame Scribe, all rights reserved. Dame Scribe creates articles and posts online. She creates articles on business skills & development, health, science, technology and society and has a strong passion for writing.