I was supposed to be working at the World Trade Center on September 11th – I only avoided death because my fiancé was unfaithful to me
A WOMAN has told how she escaped death on September 11 after a failed engagement changed her career plans and a job at the World Trade Center.
On September 11, 2001, a terrorist attack by members of Osama bin Laden’s al-Qaeda terrorist network killed nearly 3,000 Americans.
4
4
4
Most of these deaths occurred in Manhattan, New York, when two hijacked planes hit the Twin Towers.
Crystal Brown-Tatum, then 29, was working as a receptionist in Texas when news broke that the Twin Towers had been hit.
Like many others at the time, Crystal believed that the first plane that flew into the North Tower was an accident – until the second plane hit the South Tower.
“I just remember the look of disbelief and horror on everyone’s faces as we really start to understand, like I think we’re under threat of a terrorist attack,” Crystal, now 51, said in an exclusive interview with The US Sun.
Crystal’s building was evacuated and as she drove home, she thought about how her life could have changed drastically if she had been in the South Tower that day.
She thought to herself at the time, “Oh my God, I should have been in World Trade Tower Two if it hadn’t been for this strange and painful turn of belief.”
Crystal got engaged in the fall of 2000 and was scheduled to get married in May 2001.
“I was looking for a place to live. I had secured a job offer at Morgan Stanley at World Trade Center Two,” Crystal said.
“And so things looked pretty rosy and optimistic. You know, a girl from Texas was moving to the big city – I was excited and nervous,” she recalled.
“I really fell in love with New York City. I loved all the energy, the hustle and bustle.”
Crystal had her entire future planned out until she made a disturbing discovery.
“I found out my fiancé was unfaithful and called off the wedding,” she said.
Crystal called off her engagement in March 2001 and returned to Texas with her eight-year-old daughter, where they were safe from the terrorist attack that would unknowingly take place in the following months.
Of her failed engagement, Crystal said: “I was heartbroken. I was in counseling. It was just devastating to cancel a wedding.”
However, “At some point the tragedy of September 11th could have turned into relief for me. Wow, that could have been me.”
“And it kind of revealed a lifelong philosophy that I’ve had – if bad things happen to you at that time, in that moment, you’re not going to understand, oh my God, why is this happening to me?”
“But in time something will reveal itself that will give you some comfort that needed to happen to you in order for you to grow or even to be whole,” she said.
Crystal is also a breast cancer survivor.
“I’m sorry to say I cheated death twice, but you can’t help but think about what I call survivor’s guilt,” Crystal said.
She continued, “I always hold that very close to my heart and I’m grateful to still be here, but there’s always that kind of guilt that could have changed my life that day.”
Crystal is currently a Human Resources Manager and Army Spouse. Her daughter is now the same age as Crystal when 9/11 happened.
“My life has come full circle – professionally and personally. I’m fine,” she said.
Crystal was able to find love again after reconnecting with a man she met in college when she was 25.
“It was great because when I reconnected with my husband, I was emotionally healed from that setback and was open and ready to love again,” Crystal said.
4