It was the different dawn, traffic was very thin and the sidewalks were quiet. Stock exchange did not open, same with airports, schools, and broadways. Here and there people were loaded with bottled water, batteries and canoes. Intense presence of law enforcement was seen as men with machine guns and gunboats circled the harbor.

The fires burned, the smoke plumed and the odor stood.

The city was humbled and scared, possibilities of more destruction was recalibrated. It was the day after 9/11 2001.

Much was written and much was said about what happened on September 9. The following day was just a new day that was a dulled interlude in the aftermath of incoherent morning.

But…

The New Yorkers got introduced on this day to the day that was never thought of and no one can ever think of it ever. New York became a fortress city. It was chocked by apprehension and resignation. Patrolled by soldiers and submarines. Another attack was presumed. And soon.

Who will come to the city again for tour on holidays? Who will ever work in the skyscrapers of New York? No one. Presumption. Fire Department could never recuperate, gutted by 343 deaths.

If any chance of regeneration stood in downtown Manhattan, ground zero quickly had to be rebuilt.

After eight years, all assumption and presumptions never came to pass. Indeed, the gap was narrowed about what was predicted and what really came to be.

On 9/11, American Express headquarter was at southwest corner of West and Vesey Streets. The headquarters is still there. Since September 11, Verizon settled headquarter at the northeast corner and Goldman Sachs assumed at the northwest. The only missing is southeast corner…

Oh! Yes, it will be filled in near future by the tallest building in America.