Comforted by a ceremony at the fountain

For Eva Gujral, the years haven't made losing her sister, Manika K. Narula, on 9/11 any easier.

"My mother and I are still in denial," Gujral said after the commemoration. "We still expect her to come home and say, 'I'm back!' It's still just so unbelievable, even after 10 years."

Narula was 22 when she died. The Deer Park woman had worked at Cantor Fitzgerald for less than a year as a data processor on the 101st floor of the north tower.

If there was any small comfort this year, her family walked into the ceremony, as they have on 9/11 every year, "and we didn't walk into a big hole," said Gujral, 36. "This year, the fountain was beautiful. It was very peaceful."

She, her father, Baldev Narula, mother, Madhu Narula, her husband, Varun Gujral, her 4-year-old son, Aryan Gujral, and 3-year-old daughter, Riya Mona Gujral, saw Manika's name on the memorial wall.

"It was bittersweet," Gujral said. "I know she's part of history. But you feel like all you have of her is her name." Manika's remains were never found.

Gujral lamented that her husband and children never had the chance to meet her sister. The name on the wall and the reading of her name is nice, she said.

"But I'd rather have my sister back," she said.