I Remember

I remember. I remember it was early morning on a Tuesday. I had the day off. I was a helpless, naive and struggling twenty-three, working at a soon to be closed call center in Tempe, and sharing a three bedroom apartment in Chandler with my two sisters and nephew. I remember it was a sunny day. I remember I was sound asleep when Shari, one of my sisters, came barging in and almost yelling: "We're being attacked!" I remember feeling disoriented as I rose and came to the TV - like so many citizens that day - and huddling around in stunned silence for hours. We watched the planes slaminto the Twin Towers. We watched the towers slam into the ground. We watched death toll figures climb initially into the thirty thousand range. We were frightened. I remember going to get fast food and being stilled by the empty streets but mostly by the empty sky. No planes flew. 

The world changed forever. I remember. Etched into my soul like a knife to stone.

May your bravery,

In your seats doomed to fire,

Always give us pause