EST. 1997

To hear about such a tragic incident is always heart breaking, but it is incomprehensible when it happens in the place you call home: somewhere you have stood a hundred times, somewhere you have made amazing memories, somewhere meant for fun. It just doesn’t seem possible. Everyone says that in the face of terrorism, we must stand strong and carry on, but the Manchester Attack made my heart feel so heavy that for a while, that just wasn’t an option. Stuff like this doesn’t happen in Manchester. This isn’t what Manchester is about.   I am a Manchester girl: it is in my blood and my bones and my heart. Despite being the second city (sorry Brum) it sometimes feels like Manchester is a secret – from the outside it doesn’t seem that special, but when you live there you feel the warmth and the spirit of the best city in the world and you realise that there is nowhere you would rather call home.  The people of Manchester may seem sarcastic and grumpy, but in reality, they are warm-heated and friendly and loving. Mancunians say hi to people they pass on the street, thank bus drivers, shout and cheer for their team, scream Oasis lyrics at the top of their lungs and share their chips with their mates. Mancunians are the best. They moan about the weather but they never let it stop them. They don’t let anything stop them. Mancunians are proud. Proud of the things Mancunians did to change the world and proud of the things Mancunians will do to change the world. Proud of Manchester’s diversity and acceptance and humour and wit. And now more than ever, proud of the kindness and generosity of fellow Mancunians. Proud of the spirit in our community and the solidarity in our city. Proud that we can stand together and say ‘No, you will not break us apart and you will not make us live in fear’. For now, we stop and we think about the 22 people who lost their lives. We think of their families. We think of those who were injured and of those who witnessed the devastation. We keep them in our hearts and in our minds, but we carry on. We will not live in fear. We will go to concerts and clubs and pubs and the football and we will shout from the top of our lungs. We will not let hate tear our city apart. Manchester will not be beaten. That is what Manchester is about.