UBahn Tragedy

Today as I made my way to the UBhan (subway) to meet a young woman I regularly meet with, I was prevented from entering. Apparently this line was not running.  The entire line was not shut down, just at this station.  Everyone knows what that means.

It became apparent this was fresh; it had just occurred.  There were Policemen and one ambulance hurrying about the ground level before plunging deep into the UBahn tracks.  This was routine procedure.  When there is an "incident" emergency workers and UBahn workers know the routine.

It is a "given" here in my city and everyone knows that when something like this happens ... its usually a "Jumper".  Out of some one's desperation they jumped in front of the UBahn and ended their life.

I wondered if anyone else felt the gravity of the moment like I did.  As I regrouped, trying to reroute my trip and text my friend to tell her I was late, I was stricken by the way in which everyone else seemed to just ... carry on.

It took me much longer to get to my friend than I expected.  As I traveled, I thought about the "Jumper".  Was it a young woman like the one I was meeting?  Was this a desperate young man?  What was their story?  What led them to this drastic act of hopelessness?

I did carry on ... because I had to.  However, my time pouring into this young friend of mine was not taken for granted.  It sounds dramatic, but giving of yourself ... pouring into another ... is saving a life ... one life at a time.