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Thursday, 24 July 2014

The Unidentified Body

At precisely 5.37pm on Tuesday 22nd July 2014, an unidentified body covered up by a long black bag passed by me on a stretcher outside Edgeware Road Station. I know the exact time because at that exact time I looked at my watch perhaps to avoid looking directly at the body, or perhaps to subconsciously calculate the exact time of this person’s death. 10 minutes before this event occurred all I was thinking of was what I was going to be cooking for dinner that evening, or what would be on the tele that night, when loud sirens started to ring throughout the station, I forgot these thoughts instantaneously. These sirens were soon followed by a worryingly uneasy sounding voice:

‘Due to an emergency situation please evacuate the station immediately’

As we all grouped together and started heading towards the exit I watched the expressions on people’s faces change. Some concerned, some confused, and some were certainly trying not to remember the tragic events that occurred at this very same station just 9 years before, on 7/7. At this exact time no one knew what to expect.

Upon leaving the station in an orderly manor I made sure to stay close to the doors to avoid having to push my way through the crowds when the time came to re-enter. I stood there for about 10 minutes contemplating whether or not to attempt another route home when a man eventually appeared. He told everyone to look away if they were squeamish or likely to become traumatised as unfortunately a lady had lost of life this evening, and she would be passing through here very soon.

What did he just say? ‘A lady had lost her life?’. These words echoed in my thoughts over and over again. Finally understanding what had happened was one thing, but now being given the identity of 'a lady' was quite another. Which lady? What was she doing? I considered the lack of emergency services at the station and came to the conclusion that she must of committed suicide, speculation I know and perhaps she had a heart attack but surely there would be at least one ambulance if this was the case.

The Police led two men in black suits through the crowds. As they pushed the stretcher along, the crowd fell silent as if to pay their respects to this person who was now just a shape covered up by the familiar looking black bag. They placed her body in a bizarre looking grey vehicle and quickly left.  

We were then able to return to the platform but I couldn’t shake the thoughts of what had just happened off.  What had become of this woman to make her think that this was her only choice? What circumstances had arisen before? What were her worries? What were her woes? How old was she? I then started to think about her hobbies, her favourite foods, her job or what kind of person she actually was.

On this her final day, what clothes had she picked out? How did she style her hair? Did she know that this day was to be her last? Had she planned it, or was it simply just an accident. Just before it happened what might have been running through her mind? Was she too thinking about dinner or what was on the tele that evening? I then wondered if she would be remembered and who knew her, but obviously knew not of what had just happened. Would they remember her? Would they care? I looked at this form in front of me that I have so often seen in films and in television programs in the past, and I tried to create an image of her in my mind and think about the many names that she may have had. So, this is for you - 'the lady that lost her life'. I will remember you, whoever it was, that you were.

22nd July 2014 at approximately 5.20pm

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