THE ULTIMATE FEAR

By Besart Ukaj

I'm not afraid of anything.

We'll, I used to think that I wasn't afraid of anything until 9/11.

Before 9/11 I used to see the towers everyday on my way to school and my way back home. Everytime I caught a glimpse of the standing 110 stories up in the sky. The towers symbolized NYC's strenghth to get through anything the comes our way. As long as I saw the towers every mourning I would have a good day.

Then came a warm day in September. It was around eight in the morning when a Boeing 747 jet went into the first tower. At first, I couldn't believe the news that the towers were hit as an act of terrorism. But when news came that the second tower was hit around nine in the morning, I knew it was an act of terrorism. Then came the collapse of the towers and the realization that the strength of NYC had been compromised. I really wasn't worried about anything at first. I had lived in this city long enough to feel assured that the police department and the fire department were trained well enough to handle any disaster that came our way. But that feeling changed when I finally came home realized through T.V. media that nobody is trained well enough to handle a disaster like the one on 9/11. That day in September was in a way a wake-up call because it made us realize that everything can change over breakfast.

My life since 9/11 hasn't changed much. I still go to school; I still try to enjoy my life to the fullest; I still try to do my usual routine. But eventually once in a while I look up and see an empty skyline that brings back memories that will haunt NYC forever.