April 27th, 2018
On Monday, April 23rd at 1:50 pm you sent us a video and a message that rocked me to my core. You sent a video which I couldn’t understand. When your brother asked what it was, you described the scene right out of a movie.
My daughter went outside on her lunch break, on what was a beautiful sunny and warm day in Toronto. Her usual time was 1:30, but waiting on her colleagues, she was running late on her daily lunchtime routine. It was 1:40 by the time she went out. What greeted her were two dead bodies on the sidewalk, right outside her work.
She works in North York, Toronto. A vibrant, busy street. Full of businessmen and women, restaurants, stores and shops. People milling about or rushing to grab a bite to eat. A beautiful happy finally, sunny day; until.
Until a man driving a white van intentionally pummeled into the crowd, and completely shattered everyone’s lives forever.
I was horrified inside my core. My daughter could easily be one of those poor innocent victims that day.
“at 1:30 mommy I would have been crossing Yonge street to go to the dollar store, but I was late 10 minutes”
At work myself, I sat down at my desk. After hanging up with my daughter. I replayed her words:
“I saw two dead bodies in front of me, they were covered in orange tarp”
“people were crying and everyone is in shock”
After work, I went to visit her. I bought a chocolate mousse cake, along with a bit of wishful thinking that she could somehow forget what she saw.
She took the cake and without even cutting into it and eating it, she placed it on the dining room table, grateful, but untouched.
She said “I’m mourning my co-workers, even though I didn’t know them”
She was devastated and clearly shook up. Overwhelming sadness and helplessness consumed her, as tears and emotion, finally took a hold of her.
I sat there on the couch just holding her hand, as we sat silently for a while…
It has been five days later, and still, this horrific tragedy brings tears to my eyes. Tears for what she saw, tears for them.
Ten people lost their lives, 16 injured. Two men and eight women, ages from 22 and 94.
I’m so saddened by this.
This senseless act of violence.
I’m glued to watch the news, to hear witnesses, to see the near misses of others running from the path of destruction, running for their lives.
I cry when I hear how other’s honk their horns to warn others.
Tears overflow as I hear about all the heroes that day.
To know they’ve tried to save strangers. To know we all are grieving.
My heart breaks of everything I’ve heard and seen this week.
Therapy dogs were brought it at Mel Lastman’s square yesterday. To shine a glimmer of light, a bit of happiness to this sad place, perhaps a minute of distraction, a relief from a very emotional and hectic week.
I pray for the people of Toronto. I hope in time everyone can heal. We won’t ever forget, but time hopefully, will heal somewhat, of the pain we all are enduring.
#torontostrong!
**videos from Youtube**
