A Week After Terror

My phone buzzed in its usual heartbeat pattern as I lounged on the couch after a long day of water sports. Wakeboarding and tubing brought me to a point of exhaustion that made it difficult to lift my arm and grab my phone. I built up the strength and flipped my phone over. An alert from CNN startled me as it read “Terrorist attack strikes London”, the exact location I was flying to in less than 24 hours. Instantly my mother called, worried about the whole situation, insisting I be very hesitant on my trip. I told her not to worry, and that I would stay clear of the area.

As soon as I woke up on my first day in London, I threw on my backpack and headed straight for the train station. Instantly, I headed to the London Bridge stop, only to find the opposite of what I expected. Crowds of people pouring out support for their city, families putting flowers on the monument of the bridge, and children writing notes that read “The London Bridge Will Never Fall” all caught me off guard as I arrived. Only days after two attacks had taken place on the very bridge I was standing on, crowds of people buzzed around like nothing had taken place.

The unity I was lucky enough to witness displayed a whole new side of the city of London to me. The families, citizens, and tourists gathered together supporting one city showed that through any terrible act, love and support can keep a city on its feet. The London Bridge will truly never fall.