A story: 9/11 and darkness

Margaret River Beach, Western Australia

19 years ago I was hiking in a cave in Margaret River Beach, Australia. At one point we were fairly deep into this cave and reached a point when our guide stopped us. At first we looked at the rock formations (stalagmites, etc). Then he looked around and told us that we were now at a point where absolutely no outside light was penetrating the space we were in. He had us turn off our flashlights and anything that would emit light. The darkness was so overwhelming that it threw off your senses. There was no way of gaining perspective. Touch was the only way to move around and even then there was a sense of vertigo. You never notice the difference even the smallest amount of light makes until you are in absolute darkness.

As I was leaving the cave I walked by a man, who noticed my accent and asked, “Are you American? The World Trade Center was just bombed.”

My guide drove us to the nearest gas station with a television to learn the full extent of what happened. We got there as the second tower collapsed. Every one of us mourned.

I will never forget that moment. I will never forget the compassion and support that strangers in a foreign country showed during a terrifying and tragic moment in history. I will never forget the humanity that we all shared no matter our background, race, nationality or creed.

I will never forget the difference even the smallest amount of light makes in absolute darkness.