I was on my way to work with my mom (we both work as legal assistants in the same building) when the DJ on the radio station said that a plane had flown into one of the twin towers. Both my mom and I thought it was a horrible accident, never once did the thought of terrorism cross my mind.

When I made it into work and got to my computer, I checked WashingtonPost.com to see what had happened, then went into the conference room to turn on the tv. I called to my mom once the second plane flew into the second tower and the two of us just stared in a state of shock at the television as everything started to unfold.

My phones were ringing off the hook so I went back to my desk to try and get some work done, when on the radio a DJ said a plane crashed into the Pentagon. I ran back into the conference room to the TV. I started to panic because my Dad’s office is within walking distance to the Pentagon. Both mom and I were trying my dad but we couldn’t get in touch with him. After about half an hour he called us to say they were evacuating his building, and you could hear emergency personnel, police dogs, ambulances and fire engines in the background when the phone went dead. So we had no idea what happened to Dad. He was finally able to call us back to let us know he was okay, and on his way home.

By now, military helicopters were flying incredibly low around our offices, enough to make the buildings shake. Just enough to reinforce the feeling of panic.

My boss sent me home, neither one of us were getting any work done. I got home hugged my family, then went to see my fiance, he still had family missing in the World Trade Center. We finally heard from them late into the evening.

The day after, you could still smell the smoke in the are from the pentagon..a chilling reminder that it wasn’t a horrible nightmare.