Touched By Horror

To the Editor:

We were all touched. Touched by horror, touched by helplessness, touched by numbing sorrow and mounting anger. We watched and listened in grim disbelief. Our friends, moms, dads, grams or gramps, sister, brother, aunt or uncle were there. Where were they now? And the overwhelming, urgent need to hear their voice. Surely this was just a movie, a video with rewind. We called our children and later held them a bit more tightly. We cried, we prayed and we cracked jokes to cover the pain. We waited for miracles. And the fear slipped in. Our safety and security violated by hatred. Our need to do something, anything. We give blood and send money, still disbelieving the massive destruction this evil act of violence created. With hearts and souls aching and forever changed we return to work and school and life. And we realize there is something we can do. We can be kind. We can be tolerant and respectful. We can share our lives with those who are empty. We can teach our children that different is good. We can be humble and human. We can remember we are all someone’s valuable child.

Barbara Reilly RN

Newtown Middle School Health Office

Queen Street, Newtown              September 12, 2001