In high school, I read a poem about a visit to Auschwitz—and how striking it was that there were children playing nearby and flowers starting to grow where unspeakable things had happened.

I understand that people have their own lives to keep on living, but it felt so strange to have to go about my business like nothing had happened. Seeing people in their shops or talking to their friends and laughing outside their homes seemed so incongruous, so grotesque.

I got a job today. I started volunteering at PAWS; today. I came home and cried and whimpered on Jed.

Taking the elevator down to the basement of our building to get in the car sends my heart into a frenzy and shivers down my spine.

If I was up there and the fire was there, I would have jumped.