A Moment That Changed Everything: From Doubt to Devotion on 9/11
In the chaotic aftermath of the September 11 terrorist attacks, amidst the dust and despair that engulfed New York City, a profound personal realisation emerged for one woman. Lauren Schott recounts how the horrific events of that day irrevocably transformed her relationship with her boyfriend, Chris, turning uncertainty into an unshakeable bond.
An Oxford Beginning and Transatlantic Romance
Lauren first met Chris in 1997 at a college bar during her term as an American exchange student at the University of Oxford. Despite her initial reservations about his cocky demeanour and one-dimpled smile, they quickly became a couple. Their relationship endured a transatlantic separation when Lauren returned to North Carolina to complete her English degree while Chris began working in London.
They maintained their connection through visits, including a surprise appearance by Chris at Lauren's 21st birthday party and a memorable New Year's Eve in Paris. After graduation, Lauren moved to London to pursue an MA and be closer to Chris, before both eventually settled in New York City—Lauren working in publishing and Chris for an American bank.
Life in Manhattan and Underlying Doubts
In Manhattan, they embraced the lifestyle of childless twentysomethings, with long working hours, social drinking, and summer weekends on Fire Island. While their love was undeniable, differences in personality and background created underlying tensions. Lauren, open-hearted and from a middle-class Midwestern family, contrasted with Chris, the strong, silent type raised by a single mother in Manchester who sometimes struggled financially.
Lauren admits she was "kind of spoiled", while Chris could be "a little dour". These disparities led her to question whether they were too different, a concern exacerbated by Chris's reluctance to engage in deep discussions about their relationship.
The Cataclysmic Events of September 11
On the morning of September 11, 2001, Lauren was in their Flatiron apartment preparing for work when news broke of an explosion at the World Trade Center. Initially dismissing it as an air traffic incident, the reality soon became horrifyingly clear. Meanwhile, Chris was in his Wall Street office, just blocks away from the towers.
When the South Tower exploded at 9:03 am, Chris was only two blocks away, witnessing the building bend towards him before he turned and fled. For hours, Lauren was unable to reach him, watching the towers collapse on television and seeing smoke billow from downtown from their rooftop. After frantic calls from both their mothers, Chris finally made contact, safe but trapped in his office building.
A Harrowing Homecoming and a Stark Realisation
Chris arrived home mid-afternoon, covered in dust and smelling of burning metal, among the stream of survivors from lower Manhattan. As they hugged and processed the day's events, a pizza shop employee, noticing their dust-covered appearance and shock, refused to let them pay for their meal.
It was later that night, as news coverage shifted to the perpetrators of the attacks, that Lauren experienced a fierce, possessive anger. She realised how close she had come to losing Chris, and in that moment, all doubts vanished. The thought of missing out on his quirks—the dimple, his bossiness, his goofy sweetness, and even his grumpiness—became unbearable.
The Fossilisation of Love and Lasting Commitment
In the weeks and months that followed, this raw emotion, mingled with grief for the thousands lost, solidified into something "hard and unwavering". Lauren came to understand that love could be primitive and visceral, transcending analysis and discussion. They married in 2003, and over 25 years of modern life challenges—including grave illness and financial stress—their commitment has remained a given.
Lauren no longer keeps score in their relationship; instead, she holds fast to the certainty that he is hers, and she will always hold on. Her memoir, Very Slowly All at Once, published by HQ, delves deeper into this transformative journey, offering a poignant testament to how tragedy can forge unbreakable bonds.
