A traumatizing experience in NYC

I have to admit that I never thought I would have to feel as if I was "running for my life". But on Wednesday, that was the case. As the water pipe in NYC decided to explode, I was in my class with the rest of my classmates. We heard this noise that sounded at first like thunder, but then didn't stop. Our building started shaking and we saw this smoke/steam coming from what seemed to be the middle of a building on the opposite corner of our building.

No one knew what was happening, but as you can all imagine, we were all thinking the worst. That there was some sort of terror attack and that we needed to haul ass out of the building. We took what we could and then started running down the stairs. As we got into the lobby, the security guard kept saying "run and keep running". Well let me tell you that's exactly what I did. The only thing on my mind was that whatever this thing is, I want to get as far away as I possibly can. So I ran.....and ran....and ran....until I felt I was far enough away that I could walk at a fast pace.

The minute I picked up my cell phone it died so that just added to the frustration and panic. I saw a woman walking next to me who was in tears and on the verge of hyperventilating. I told her she needed to breathe otherwise she was going to pass out. We walked hand in hand and I helped her calm her breathing down. Luckily she had a cell phone and let me use it to try and get in touch with Phil and the rest of my family.

We walked to Columbus Circle where some of her co-workers were and in case we had to run even further, we could go into Central Park we would both feel a safe. In the end it was only a pipe explosion and not a terror attack, but I was still in a state of mind where I was not believing what I heard. I walked back home to the East Village as I refused to take the subway at that point.

As I walked back, I got some strange looks from people probably wondering why I was in such a rush and who could even imagine what I must have looked like. With random debris drops on my clothes and my backpack I probably looked like I just survived some sort of explosion. And you know what, I did!!

For those who weren't there to experience it, it probably seems like just another event in NYC. But let me tell you for those who were there it was SCARY. We all felt like we really were running for our lives. We didn't know what was going to happen.

All I can say, is that it is 2 days later and I still have this strange feeling. I know it will eventually go away, but I will never forget it.

To those who have ever experienced anything like this, my heart goes out to you.