Remembering the Twin Towers

On September 10, 2000 I took a leap of faith and told my boyfriend I loved him.

We were sitting on a bench watching speed boats zoom by on the Hudson River.

He said, “Thank you.” 

On September 11, 2002 as we rode the 1 train uptown to attend the 1 year memorial in Central Park, we discussed marriage. I had always been opposed to the traditional concept of a man proposing and said, “What if we, as a couple, decided to get married?” He replied “ok.”

Several months later we became husband and wife.

We had moved in together about a week before the attacks. He had lived in an area just across the street from the WTC. We spent our courtship in the shadow of those two majestic towers. I would ride the R train from Brooklyn to the Cortland stop. I’d rise from the underground and be greeted by them. I would walk towards them, into them, through them, to reach my love.

We discovered each other as we explored a new part of the city, later named Ground Zero. We fell madly in love and the towers witnessed this, including my declaration of love.

This is how I wish to remember them, a magical time when my heart fully came alive.

My husband and I visited Ground Zero in July during a trip to see family.

Here is the subway station I used to exit. There is Ground Zero in the background.

 Here is a view of the Freedom Tower from near where he used to live.

It was an emotional visit for us.