My September 11th©

My September 11th©

Copyright 2016

By Felina Silver Robinson

Downtown Boston at the

Jean Mayer USDA Human Nutrition Research Center

Exercise Physiology and Sarcopenia Lab

On the 13th Floor (of the 14 story building) in the Back Lab

I stood facing the big open glass windows taking in the morning view

Suddenly, the building began to shake as military jets were circling the area

I stood face to face with one of them

My heart sunk not understanding what was happening

Alone in the lab as management staff were all together in a meeting

Everyone else worked busily at their desks

The knot in my then pregnant belly was so tight, the nausea forced me to seat myself

I turned on my radio to hear to my dismay that the twin towers had been struck

My heart immediately sank

Tears uncontrollably poured down my face

Before my eyes I imagined the buildings collapse

I needed a TV to see if it was true as I was in such total disbelief of all that I was hearing

Management returned from their meeting with such solemn looks upon their faces

They asked that we gather around the TV screens that were being rolled into the common meeting space

The news of recent events flooded across the screens

We all screamed out in horror

More tears streamed down from every face

We were directed to call our families to let them know that we were safe

Holding the knowledge that our building was on high alert as any other government-funded building was at the time, I was petrified

We were all released from work until further notice

We were told that the elevators were shut down as a precaution

Trains were shut down

So I walked my pregnant self from 711 Washington street to Perry street in Brookline

Every step I took I wondered if anyone I knew was trapped in those buildings

I thought of the pain families must have felt as they learned of their lovedone’s demise

Feeling helpless I took each step

Planes continued to fly overhead

I worried for my own safety but worried more for my children and family members

One hour and fifteen minutes later and out of breath, I arrived home to my family

They were so relieved to see me that I was almost knocked down at the door

I could hear the TV going replaying the events of the morning

Showing videos of the fall of the twin towers

Each time I saw it I wanted to vomit

Knowing that a place I had once visited was now gone forever

Worse than that, so many lives were most like lost for no good reason at all

This day will haunt us for a lifetime

We must turn every bad memory into a good one

Do something positive

Leave a good mark in place  of a tragic one

My September 11th leaves me now with my last child who was born healthy

And a grand list of things that I’m grateful for

Determination to be a part of better things to come

Praying that my children will follow my lead

Feed positivity

So that we can all continue to live freely