I was in seventh grade, middle school. I heard about it second period. Nobody was supposed to have the TV on, but my science teacher let us watch it anyway. We saw the second plane hit, and then she started crying and turned it off. I didn’t truly understand what was happening.

When I got home, my parents were home from work. My mom was crying. I remember doing my homework while watching the news. It was a blue sky day.

I didn’t realize it at the time, but I’d lost my innocence forever. I’ll never get that back.