A Norwalk man who worked across the street from the Twin Towers on 9/11 shared his experience with News 12 Thursday.

At the time, Andrew Roberts lived in the Bronx and worked at Verizon.

Roberts says he was running late that day and was supposed to meet someone inside one of the towers.

While he walked into his office, Roberts witnessed the first tower explode.

After that explosion, he went back into his office.

Once he saw the second plane hit the second tower, Roberts left the area.

He walked up the West Side Highway and received several rides from strangers to get home.

Roberts returned to work just two days later, but he didn't realize the gravity of what had happened until months later.

He says what he will always remember is how people came together on that surreal and tragic day.

"I think for me being aware of my surroundings a lot more. Being grateful for a lot more things. Understanding that, you know, folks coming together, strangers that you didn't know. I got to appreciate people and things a lot more after that because it such a tragedy out of nowhere and people were lending a helping hand," he says.

With help from a stranger who was able to get cellphone service, Roberts was able to pass along a message to his wife that he was OK and safe.