It was almost the first thing I heard when I got home from school on Tuesday September 11th, at about half past four - which would be half past eleven am, Eastern Standard Time. It was on the radio news and I was shocked and apalled, but I didn't really register it until I switched on the television and saw the footage. I could see a tall building with mushrooms of smoke billowing from what can only be described as a gaping wound in its side, I heard voiceovers of hystercial witnesses and lucky but badly shaken victims. I couldn't believe what I was hearing, but then I saw it for myself. A Boeing747 banked across the sky behind the remaining tower of the World Trade Center and ploughed head-on into the side of it. Brick rained down, smoke from seemingly nowhere was suddenly everywhere, and flames licked up the side. As I watched, horrified, a second clip was played - the top of the second tower collapsed in on itself, as though it were made of so much soggy cardboard, and vanished into its own cloud of thick greyness.

I sat and I stared. But they were playing the same clips and voiceovers in a loop, so eventually I came downstairs and blogged how I felt. I did some homework, but I couldn't really concentrate on it. Then I connected again, and started talking to people. Everyone I spoke to knew what I meant the moment I said "God, it's awful, isn't it?". America, United Kingdom, New Zealand, Denmark... No corner of the globe has gone untouched by the massacre.

It was while I was chatting and beginning work on this shrine that Mom came back downstairs. "I don't want to watch anymore," she said quietly, and sat down.
---"Let's be truly British and make some tea," I suggested. Mom nodded, so I put the kettle on. "I've been chatting to my friends on AIM," I called through to her. "Sarie has relatives in New York and DC, and she hasn't heard from them, so she still doesn't know if they're..." I trailed off. Mom was snuffling and hiccuping into a tissue. Still clutching my teaspoon, I rushed to give her a hug, and we sat together on her chair, rocking slowly.
---"They just showed the footage of the second tower coming down," Mom said in a cracked voice. "You could see all the faces in the window... they were waving for someone to come and rescue them. And when it collapsed..." I started crying too, then. The image of tens of thousands of desperate people plummeting to their inevitable deaths, still waving desperately for help that could never reach them in time, was too much. Mom and I sat and cried together. It was just too awful.

Aol Instant Messenger Conversations

nguyenhoangkim: are you from UK?
xxKaeTixx: yeah but ive heard
xxKaeTixx: its awful
xxKaeTixx: everyones talking about it everywhere
nguyenhoangkim: what have you hearD?
nguyenhoangkim: that what just happened in USA?
xxKaeTixx: we've seen the footage, heard the reports, the coverage is worldwide
xxKaeTixx: yeah
xxKaeTixx: i just say the footage of when the second tower came down
xxKaeTixx: there were people in the wondows, waving
nguyenhoangkim: footage?
xxKaeTixx: film clips etc
xxKaeTixx: its so fucking awfu;
nguyenhoangkim: I dind't see anything
xxKaeTixx: o.o
nguyenhoangkim: hey hye... now use a proper language, little one..
xxKaeTixx: where you from?
xxKaeTixx: im not little
nguyenhoangkim: yes you are... you're a 84'er hehe
nguyenhoangkim: I'm from Denmark
xxKaeTixx: *nods*
xxKaeTixx: how much do you know
nguyenhoangkim: Not more than you've written on your page and user info
xxKaeTixx: oh
xxKaeTixx: they've cut out the main tv channel over here to give continual live coverage
nguyenhoangkim: what does thaat mean?
xxKaeTixx: they've stopped the normal programs to show whats happening
xxKaeTixx: some middle eastern guy hijacked himself six passenger flights
xxKaeTixx: he flew two straight into the world trade center
xxKaeTixx: one into the pentagon
xxKaeTixx: on into someplace near pennsylvania
xxKaeTixx: the other two are still out there, nobody knows where
nguyenhoangkim: That's just a suggestion... they don't know if it's him or someone else... I mean they need proofs
xxKaeTixx: oh
xxKaeTixx: i thought you said you didnt know anything about it??
xxKaeTixx: -.-;;
nguyenhoangkim: oh well... then I don't know very much about it hehe
xxKaeTixx: im never gonna sleep tonight
xxKaeTixx: all those people...

MacJedi 22: Hi :-)
xxKaeTixx: have you heard?
MacJedi 22: ya
xxKaeTixx: isnt it awful?
xxKaeTixx: *been crying*
MacJedi 22: its terrible
xxKaeTixx: did you see the footage of the second tower coming down?
MacJedi 22: just think of all those tens of thousands of ppl in the building
MacJedi 22: yes
MacJedi 22: on CNN
xxKaeTixx: you could see all these faces at the windows staring out, waving madly, waving, dammit!
MacJedi 22: I heard about it 1/2 an hour after it happend
xxKaeTixx: id didt hear til i got home from school
MacJedi 22: mum and dad woke me up
xxKaeTixx: and that was half eleven US eastern
MacJedi 22: I wonder what it was like for the people on the airoplains?
xxKaeTixx: oh god
MacJedi 22: there were people on them apparently
xxKaeTixx: starngely, i have to admire the terrorists who did the dirty work on those planes
xxKaeTixx: to do that, knowing the job would kill them
xxKaeTixx: yeah, passenger flights
xxKaeTixx: my parents fly to spain next week *weak grin*
MacJedi 22: some relijions say if you do good to the people, and you have to take your life to do it, you will be rewared in heaven
MacJedi 22: :/
xxKaeTixx: they werent doing good to the ppl
xxKaeTixx: they were killing them
MacJedi 22: not to THERE
MacJedi 22: ppl
xxKaeTixx: *shakes head*
xxKaeTixx: i dont understand how killing civilians help their ppl
MacJedi 22: they may want to get rid of america
MacJedi 22: for political reasons
xxKaeTixx: the politicians and terrorists are the ones who have problems with eachother, but they use the civilians as pawns
xxKaeTixx: its despicable
MacJedi 22: yeah
xxKaeTixx: http://kaetixx.pitas.com i blogged it
MacJedi 22: appparently Great Britien has stoped airoplain flights
MacJedi 22: b cause they think it might happen there
xxKaeTixx: they havent stopped flights - well maybe for a couple of days
xxKaeTixx: but every single little bag and case is being thoroughly checked, and passports identities and so on
MacJedi 22: America will be soooooo angry
xxKaeTixx: will be? i think they already are
MacJedi 22: ya
MacJedi 22: sorry :/
xxKaeTixx: sorry?
xxKaeTixx: nu dun think im mad
xxKaeTixx: i just tend to get passionate
xxKaeTixx: im ranting
xxKaeTixx: im sorry if i come over as all agressive
MacJedi 22: lol
MacJedi 22: its ok :-)
xxKaeTixx: :-)

Quotes from Chat Rooms/Message Boards, etc

"For those of you like me safe in your home, give the kids an extra tight cuddle when you take them to bed. Tell your partner how much you love them and how much they mean to you......there are hundreds of families tonight that can't do this." -- Kimscoble

"May the heroes of this time, all the people who are helping the injured and bereaved take some comfort in knowing that the good people of this world WILL unite behind their goverments to rid the world of the vermin who planned this attrocity." -- Martin & Anne

"Is this what race & relegion is really coming to?" -- SMotor50

"With family that live in New York state although no where near and friend s that live in America although nowhere near there is always a thought that somebody you know could have been there and for many familys on this day it will be true. My heart goes out to each and every one of you." -- GandDP

"Think about all the people who were just going to work, maybe they had argued with their families and then left on bads terms, think about how their families must feel, you've not only killed the people inside the area, you've killed the hearts of the people who loved them, who just thought it was another day." -- Faye (aged 14)

"There ia no way youcan ever erase this in your heart.
try however to keep your heads straight.
No mercy to the perpetrators
but ensure they are the them
not an innocent bystander with a similar colour.
-- StGiles30

"Its like something from a disaster film, but alas this is terrible true." -- JmsMcGl

"let us not forget the people who did this. I only hope that they will feel repentant for what they have done and may God forgive their actions. For I am I sure that they will not be alive for much longer and that when they do die, their souls may well go straight to hell." -- Emma Newport

"Heaven is packed with angels tonight and the devils team is alive and well on this hell on earth. may god forgive them because I cant." -- Pete Max Belswains

"No words can ever describe what you all will be going through but just remember our hearts go out to you at this desperate time" -- Michelle Truscott

"We only have one life and one planet to live it on. Lets try to make it a better life and a better world." -- The Plough

Afterword

This isn't a particularly well set-out page. My knowledge of HTML is limited, I don't know how to add a background or images to this shrine. But everybody has seen the images, has heard the clips, knows the facts. I wanted to convey something different. I wanted to communicate to anybody who might listen, the sorrow, outrage, despair and feelings so strong that words don't do them justice. I wanted to say, I care. For whatever it's worth, I feel involved in this, and I want to help. I've got to have my say.

This is my say. I hope you were moved, and inspired to do whatever you can to combat such atrocities as these. I am one sixteen year old girl in country half way round the world from where this happened, and I don't pretend to think that I can change the planet on my own. I can only express my deepest condolences to those who have lost loved ones, and impart this valuable advice --

"Be the changes you want to see in the world."

~Peace...