09/11/2026
I remember working late the night before, so I was still asleep when my dad called. He always teased me about sleeping in, so when he said, “While you were sleeping, the United States was attacked,” I honestly thought he was joking. I wasn’t even fully awake yet.
I hadn’t turned on the television—and if he hadn’t called, I probably wouldn’t have for a while. We didn’t have social media or breaking news at our fingertips back then.
Whatever he said next jolted me out of bed. I ran into the living room and turned on the TV. My roommates were already sitting on the couch. I sat on the floor, stunned, and watched the towers collapse. The shock hit me instantly, and I cried.
Later, I walked out to the mailbox. We lived directly beneath a flight path, but the sky was completely still. I remember looking up and searching for a sound that wasn’t there. It felt like the opening scene of a Hollywood movie—the moment when everything suddenly stops. Except this wasn’t a movie, and the unimaginable had already happened.
Work was canceled, and we stayed frozen in front of the television all day.
The next day, I returned to work at Houston’s (Restaurant). Every television was on. No one really talked. For days, people sat quietly, ate their meals, and watched the news together.
I don’t think any of us will ever forget where we were or how the world felt that day.
Today, I remember the lives lost, the heroes who ran toward danger, and every family whose life was forever changed. We will never forget.
