I was in my last year of college working on the Behavioral Medicine Unit in Provo, UT, as a Psychiatric Technician. I worked closely with patients whose reality was not our reality. On Septemeber 11, I came to work just as the first building was hit. We were all stunned and had the normally quiet t.v.’s on the unit all turned on. There was some question whether we should allow the patients to watch.

As the staff tried to remain calm and sensible during this confusing time, the patients were the ones who banded together. They comforted themselves with an uncommon clarity. They were able to focus their thoughts externally instead of withdrawing. At that moment we were no longer staff and patients, we all became equal.