This is the only memory I have ofSeptember 11, 2001.
They all worked together at Cantor Fitzgerald on the 104th floor of World Trade Center Tower 1.
Growing up without the three most important men in my life was not easy.
The author as a baby with her dad, Mark. Courtesy of the Colaio family.
But the one thing that has never left me is their love.
I genuinely feel I am the luckiest girl in the world to have the three greatest guardian angels.
The 9/11terroriststried to ruin my family’s lives, and they tried to break the spirit of our country.
The author on the set ofWe Go Higher: a Documentary of Hope. Courtesy of Women Rising.
Of course 9/11 devastated my family, and when I think about it, I get angry and sad.
On that day, I saw what hatred looks like.
But I grew up watching New York City rebuild and seeing our country come together.
It wasnt fear and separation that propped us up so we could rise again.
It wasnt hate that helped rebuild our city and our country.
Instead, I choose love, hope, and peace.
I sat with the thought, feeling sick to my stomach.
Why would I participate in anything that would involve killing five men, regardless of what they’ve done?
I refuse to continue this cycle ofviolenceand contribute to our society’s downward spiral.
I was met with love, and they were taught to hate.
So, as difficult as it is, I believe in forgiving them.
All I am doing is forgiving, and not for them, but for myself.
Id rather prove to these men that I have overcome their hate.
Choosing love over hate and hope over fear isn’t easy.
Every day that I make that choice is one that makes me stronger.
Our country was divided on 9/11, and it still is today.
Butafter tragedy strikes, we see the best of what America has to offer.
We take care of our neighbors.
We see American flags hung on every porch.
We watch people help others they dont even know, regardless of race or class orpolitical beliefs.
Now more than ever, I truly believe that unity is the only path forward.
Meeting other kids who lost parents in 9/11 has only made me more sure of this.
Ive found we all have different opinions, stories, and ways to grieve, and that is OK.
But we have one essential thing in common: We do not want our suffering to victimize us anymore.
The collective message of this community of survivors is that its time to reclaim our voice and narrative.
Delaney hopes to use her experience to create impactful projects that will uplift and inspire others.
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