Boston Strong

Today is the day: my final day abroad. My bag is packed and the emotions of leaving are just beginning to creep in and hit me. But today’s date is one that I cannot forget and those emotions are mixing in and overpowering my feelings about leaving.

A year ago today, bombs went off at the finish line of the Boston marathon: the finish line that so many of my friends were within close proximity of, the finish line that my father has crossed, the finish line that I and so many before me have walked by, a proud mark of our city. I will never forget that day. What happened a year ago today changed me as a person. I now know what it’s like to be truly afraid and to be aware of the fact that there are people out there who want to hurt me. But I also know what it’s like to be part of a community and be proud of that community.

I feel that I need to acknowledge this anniversary here. Living in Boston, I was deeply affected by the marathon, but as someone who’s lived in Massachusetts their entire life, it was strange seeing people around me react. I had a lot of anger, especially from the fact that I felt that everywhere I went, I was affected by this. So here is something I wrote a few months ago to express the frustration and isolation I felt after the bombings.

 

It’s a funny thing to be a victim of terrorism.

You are suddenly a member of an exclusive club that nobody and everybody wants to be in.

People will place themselves close in their minds

And then drag themselves away.

Your friends will not understand why you cry

Or don’t want to go out when the boy who did it is caught.

The boy.

They will not understand why you just want to sleep for a million years

Hoping the heaviness of slumber will drown out the images of smoke curling in the air.

But, how could I ever forget?

Folk distantly affected will cry.

They don’t know what it’s like to be locked indoors to be kept safe

To walk deserted streets with only the sound of helicopters to keep you company.

You will be angry

And like the feeling of realizing someone you love is gone

This is a thing you’ll never forget

Until the day you die

Of smoke curling in the air.

 

Obviously, these are just my feelings. There are lots of different reactions from what happened that day. What’s important though is that we all came together and Boston is a stronger community from what happened. As much as I will never forget the horror of that day, I will never forget the heroism and kindness that followed.

Boston Strong forever