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Wednesday is the sad anniversary of the rampage at Virginia Tech that took the life of more than thirty students and staff, and one survivor tells her story.
"All I remember is he came into the room, I looked at him for five seconds, thinking this isn't real, this doesn't happen in Blacksburg," said survivor Lily Habtu.
But it was very real and when it was over 32 innocent people lay dead at the hands of a Virginia Tech Student, turned mass murder.
"I didn't know I was shot. I didn't feel anything. I didn't feel the pain until I was in the hospital," said Habtu.
Sung He Cho shot her twice. Once in the wrist and once through the jaw, which severed part of her tongue.
She still carries the bullet that lodged a millimeter from her brain stem. A millimeter was the difference between life and death for Lily.
"As long as i live, it's kind of hard not to be reminded that i got a second chance, and there are people, 32 amazing people who aren't here," said Habtu.
A year later, recovery has been a long, hard and painful road consisting of a month in the hospital, two surgeries on her wrist and she's still waiting for jaw surgery.
Her face is different. Her bright smile now muted some, and her teeth will need braces.
"When I look in the mirror I see a stranger in the face and i'm constantly reminded of what happens to me," said Hobtu.
Lily was out of the hospital in time for graduation in May, but by August she still struggled to even eat.
"I was chewing with my back two teeth and I had to push the food back just to chew," said Hobtu.
But through the pain of recovery she's found purpose, dedicating her time to changing the nation's gun laws; changes she believes could prevent similar school shootings by an unstable gunman.
"The American people have the right to have their guns, but lets keep the dangerous people from having them. No one should oppose that," said Hobtu.
Remembering the tragedy that fell upon Virginia Tech is part of Lily's daily life. There is pain and scars both physical and emotional so, for her the anniversary of April 16th is ever day.
Lily says, however, what keeps her going a year later is the hope that people will hear her story, see her suffering and act.
"You try to make changes and save lives, so people don't have to go through what I've had to go through," said Hobtu.
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