On Tuesday April 14th, 2020, at 6:30 pm, someone jumped in front of an eastbound subway train entering the Christie Subway station. I was on this train, but not in the first car. I did not see or hear anything, but was puzzled when the doors did not open once the train had stopped.
“We apologize for the delay,” said the announcement. “There has been a track-level injury. Please proceed upstairs once we open the doors.”
It was about five minutes before they opened the doors.
The *TTC suspended subway service delaying the other passengers, but not me. Christie was my stop. As I walked out of the station, I passed police officers, firefighters, and paramedics on their way down to the eastbound platform. Their vehicles, with flashing red lights, littered Christie Street in front of the station.
Was the jumper male or female? What would cause him or her to choose to check out at 6:30 pm on Tuesday, April 14th? Financial troubles? Health issues? Love and relationship problems? Some of the above? All of the above? Who knows? How sad that he or she could not see another solution besides suicide?
I stopped at a bench on the westside of Christie just north of the station and said a prayer for the victim. I also prayed for the victim’s family. Tears filled my eyes.
I am not sure how long I sat and prayed, but it was not too long. I got up and, like Life itself, I carried on.
