“There has been an incident downtown, so the last stop on this train will be Canal St.”
No problem, I thought, I get off at 8th. I continued reading my comic book.
Blur. I found myself exiting the train and running for my class, my biggest worry being tardiness on the 2nd day of class. I reached the Tisch building and entered the elevator. I exited on the 6th floor, quickly glanced at my watched and thought, good, only 9:32. I found the room, but it was locked.
I walked around a bit until I found a group huddled around a radio.
“Are you guys waiting for the Film Recitation too?”
Some nodded and turned their attention back to the radio. I started listening too.
“Two planes have just hit the World Trade Center! All off-duty and available emergency personnel are being asked to report for duty! I repeat, two planes have just hit the Twin Towers!”
Sweet Mother of God! How far away is that? I thought. I wonder what class Sam has.
“Oh my God! Oh my God! Ladies and gentlemen, one of the towers has just collapsed!”
Blur. I found myself in Washington Square Park, looking for my girlfriend. Sam and I had agreed to meet there after class. I was hoping she’d already be there. I walked around for a bit and looked for her. People screamed. I looked up and saw the second tower collapse.
Blur. I found myself sprinting past 7th street, choking back tears, thinking one thing: far.
Blur. I found myself on my knees, holding a gate. People were crying around me.
Blur. I found myself back at the Park, praying that Sam was nowhere near the buildings.
Blur. I found myself in her arms, sobbing on her shoulder. She was telling me that she was okay, that I had no reason to worry about her.
"My mom must be panicked,” she said.
Blur. I found myself assuring my mother that I was okay, that I was nowhere near the affected area. She sounded relieved.
I started thinking about the possibility of being drafted.
Adan Jimenez is a loud, somewhat obnoxious fellow who thinks he's always right. He's a California native who moved to New York in 2000 and instantly fell in love, as the city is nothing and everything like he'd ever read, watched, and consumed. Of course, he instantly got his heart broken as the city is fickle, but his love is an unconditional love, and even though the city curses and abuses him from time to time, Adan can't help but love it all the more. He loves comics too, and thinks Brian K. Vaughn is the most handsome man currently working in comics. Go Jets!
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