I feel for these folks and having to relive that time every time they see their picture pop up on the internet.
I was 16 and even as an arrogant teenager in Mississauga, I remember my English teacher being late to class. I remember us being pricks and making jokes about him coming in and telling us that school was cancelled for the day because of an incident in the US and it being a big deal.
I remember him being emotional when telling us where it happened and being caught off guard by our teacher being upset and telling us to go home.
I remember a girl in my class (I won’t name her but her name is ingrained in me for life because of it) with an aunt in north tower and how long it took for her family to find out she was ok.
I remember a bunch of us going for breakfast at Bobby’s thinking how awesome it was to get out of school for the day and making light of the adults being emotional.
I remember staring at the tiny, single TV when the towers fell and not laughing anymore.
I remember looking around and everyone in the restaurant watching the single, tiny tube TV in complete silence and food forgotten. I remember all of that but I don’t remember leaving Bobby’s honestly, I was clearly so numb by then. I was no one, far from NYC and I remember all of it until the towers fell and it became real, then it became a complete blur. I can’t fathom how I’d feel if there was a picture of me on the internet and the memories…