You're eighteen years old. School has recently been dismissed for the summer; what better way to kick off summer than by going to a concert? This is the first time you can remember you and your younger sister being able to share the love of an artist together. In this case, that artist is Ariana Grande.
You grew up watching Victorious, and she loves the now-popstar. You two spend the whole day getting ready together. You put on your brand new outfits, get your nails done, do each other's hair, and get a nice, early dinner together. The two of you haven't been able to bond like this in a while, and as the shared excitement grows you remember how much you love your little sister.
You take your car to the show and blast Grande's newest hits in anticipation. You find parking, enter the Manchester Arena, and get your seats. The seconds feel like hours as you wait for Ariana to take stage. Finally, she does. She wows you with impressive vocals, dancing, and lighting.
You have the time of your life; you don't have a voice at the end of the concert, because you were singing along so loudly. You couldn't be happier. You're so excited to get matching t-shirts and head home! You can't wait to tell your parents about the time you had! You've got stories of the opening song, weird people at the concert, and the crazy lines for security! However, something stops you from making it out. You hear a loud noise, lights flicker, and chaos ensues. People are screaming, crying, and running everywhere.
Suddenly you realize, you don't know where your little sister is.
This sad tale became close to reality for thousands of Ariana Grande` fans on May 22, 2017.
Here's what we know:
At approximately 10:30 PM, a bomb blew-up outside of the venue hitting the venue's foyer.
22 fatalities and 59 hospitalizations have been reported, many of which were children under sixteen.
Paramedics also treated numerous injuries which were not numbered.
A suspect, Salman Ramadan Abedi, has been named.
Many parts of the city have now been marked off.
ISIS has taken responsibility for the attack.
This is the deadliest terrorist attack in the UK since July 2005.
Terrorist attacks like this often fill the world with feelings of hatred. However, now, more than ever, we need to express love. Everyone needs to set aside their differences and come together to support the 21,000 people in attendance that night. We need to come together to support the entire community of Manchester. This attack affected children and families. We don't want our children to grow up in a world afraid of concerts or public events. So I encourage you to express your support in any way possible whether that is social media, a monetary donation, or another form. It is needed now more than ever.
#prayingformanchester
