9/11 and the Substitute Mother
My aunt was among those killed during the 9/11 attacks. Years later, her memory teaches me the importance of substitute mothers, writes Diana Miller.
In 2001, Diana Miller lost the world she knew when tragedy struck New York City. Twenty-five years later, she found herself rebuilding it, all while serving as a "substitute mother" to her six-year-old niece. Though she never had children of her own, she adopted this new role after leaving her media career in New York to move to Los Angeles.
This new chapter in her life began when she discovered that her niece was the beneficiary of her late aunt, Daphne Pouletsos, who worked for the insurance company AON and tragically lost her life in the 9/11 attacks. Saza, as she was affectionately called, had been a constant presence in Diana's life, accompanying her on family vacations and providing joy through her infectious laughter and a knack for transforming mundane moments into something magical.
Following 9/11, Diana found herself unexpectedly fulfilling the role that her aunt had once played, cherishing the precious moments spent with her niece and feeling Saza's presence in every one of them.
Written by urgent.news from Time's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
