BARCELONA, Spain - A citizen of Barcelona said her decision to change her lunch plans may have saved her life.

Marta Navarro was born and raised in Barcelona. She told CHANNEL 5 NEWS she loves the vibrant nature of her city.

On Thursday, she and a friend planned to meet for lunch on the famous "La Rombla." The popular spot is in the heart of the city.

"An hour before the attack my plans changed and I returned home. It was really shocking to see how a last-minute decision kept me from being there, it could have been me," Navarro told CHANNEL 5 NEWS.

Navarro said she learned of the attack as her cell phone became flooded with calls from family and friends. She feels grateful to be alive. Fourteen others weren't as lucky.

And hours later, a second attack in the nearby city of Cambrils erupted.

Related Story: Missing imam in Spain thought to be key figure

"In the second incident that night, my father was nearby and I felt so much fear thinking that something might have happened to him. It's more about my family, I don't worry about how it could affect me but knowing it could impact someone in my family - it filled me with fear,” Navarro explained.

Navarro said the city hasn't been the same since the attacks. The streets, restaurants and bars are all empty. Friends from other regions of the country are canceling trips to Barcelona. She added the heightened police presence is as terrifying as it is comforting.

"For me, it's difficult to feel the change of energy in the city because it was so recent. For now, it's like being in shock and needing time to digest everything that has happened. It would be a shame that the city would stop being what it was, or that people would stop doing certain things out of fear because that is what they want,” Navarro explained.

She said she sees a glimmer of light at the end of the tunnel.

Residents are doing all they can to help their fellow community members in acts of solidarity. She explained she has one message for the attackers and the rest of the world.

"I think we are a strong city and that we will move on and that life will return to normality, and we will continue to trust that a terrorist attack won't end life here," Navarro told CHANNEL 5 NEWS.

Navarro said the terrorists won't win - good always wins over evil. We will continue to check in with Navarro as she and her city fight to find some layer of normalcy after these attacks.