9-11-2001

It was a sunny afternoon.
One of those days you won't switch the TV on, because it's fun to be with the children.
They just came from school. Limonade ready in the kitchen.
They didn't even drink it, because friends from the neighbourhood called and they went.

I walked to the TV and switched it on.
Just when I'd realised what I had done and bended over to switch it off again, I saw a replay of the first plane hitting the WTC.

First I thought it was a movie, but then there was another replay, and another one.

At the same moment I realised it all was real, happening at the other side of the world, I saw a second airplane moving towards the other tower.
Later the children said they heard me call: "Watch out!".

It felt like a hugh *sigh* went over the world.

I called my husband, then called a friend to ask if another friend who planned to visit the WTC for work that day already was in the building.
ofcourse he didn't know.

I was glued to the TV, trying to understand what was happening.

Waiting for a call that our friend and her collegues were safe.

So many thoughts and feelings....
How many people would witness this with me...?
How many died...?
Would people above the fires be able to escape?
What would this be for people who are near the building?
Imagine your father is there, your mother, your child, brother, sister, friend...

Time went by...

People struggled inside the buildings to find a way out, and others went in to help them.

This was all pain...

I saw people running out of the buildings... All covered in dust..

People falling into their death... One can't imagine how much fear there must have been to jump from such immense buildings...

Buildings just sinking into the earth...
And clouds of grief emerging in the streets...

I sat there... thinking of online friends who themselves and/or their friends and families worked in those buildings.
and feeling sad... so sad......