Boston Will Endure: Life Under the Clutches of Tragedy

There are more police officers on patrol. Unattended backpacks are seen as threats — an hour ago, I received an alert from the university, telling me to stay clear of the library.

The bombing claimed three lives, including an eight-year-old. At least 176 were injured, many of them in critical condition. Tragedy hit so close to home.

But tragedy happens all the time. That same day, coordinated attacks in Iraq killed 55 people. A day after, an earthquake in Pakistan killed 13.

The bombing is nothing short of heinous. But our lives will go on. They have to. This is not the first time Boston grieves — and it will likely not be the last.

In time, those responsible will answer for what they did. In time, April 15 will mark how Boston stood resolute against tragedy — and not how much that tragedy has pierced us.

Boston will endure. It is a beautiful city.

Katherine Smith is a journalism student at Boston University’s College of Communication in Boston, Mass. She also writes for The Buzz, an online publication at Boston University.