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Too Close To Home

My reflections on the terror attacks in Europe.

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Too Close To Home
Katie Merrill

On July 18, 2016, there was an attack on a train in Würzburg, Germany. Five people were injured and one was killed, the attacker. The attacker was a 17-year-old boy who had ties to ISIS. It wasn't a big attack, hardly even noteworthy. The only one killed was the bad guy.

The reason I picked this specific attack is because right now my big sister is living in Würzburg where the attack took place. This terrified me! Before now the attacks weren't exactly real to me, but this made things very real and close to home for me.

My sister and I get along pretty well. I mean we do fight sometimes as all sisters do. But, the thought of losing her sends a chill down my spine. I have known her through thick and thin, and she has always been there for me.

The next day it became even more real when I learned of the mall shooting in Munich. My sister had been planning on going to Munich that day with a friend. If she had been there she could have been on of the people who were killed.

The thing is, the past couple of years we have been pummeled with tragedy after tragedy. So many that we forget that it is not the norm. We become numb to emotions and it doesn't hit us as hard when each event happens. Many of us have shut down, not allowing ourselves to be scared. But, it is OK to be scared. It is OK to be frightened. Just don't let that fear get in the way of you living your life.

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This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
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