We’d planned a joint birthday celebration, my twenty-fifth had passed in August and hers was coming up in mid-October. I’d booked tickets for the London Eye at half past ten, which is why we were keen to meet up early. It wasn’t far to go: a tube up to Green Park and then back down to Waterloo. I’d been once before, with my ex-boyfriend, Dean, but it was Jane’s first time. As soon as I’d told her about the amazing views across the city, she’d been desperate to book a ‘flight’. We’d chosen to have lunch afterwards at the Rainforest Café at Piccadilly Circus, which looked exotic and fun. Choosing the restaurant took up most of our half-an-hour phone call as we discussed our plans for the day.

I’d been looking forward to our trip all week but had slept through my alarm so was in a rush to get to the station, a twenty minute walk away. It was becoming a bit of a habit, that I’d lie awake at night worrying about things, usually about how I was going to pay the bills. I’d end up watching the sun rise before passing out and waking in a panic. Thankfully, I’d chosen my outfit the night before, so after my five minute shower, I threw on a white and orange striped shirt with jeans and headed out of the door. It was going to be a beautiful day for our ‘flight’, there wasn’t a cloud in the sky.

I cut through Grove Park, passing a dog walker on my way in. An old boy with a white and tan terrier who tipped his cap at me and smiled. They both seemed to be enjoying their early-morning stroll around the park. All was peaceful; the Sunday bustle didn’t normally start until around half nine. It was usually my favourite time of day for a jog, before everyone else stirred from their lazy mornings.

Digging my headphones out of my bag, I selected a playlist on my phone and headed across the field. It was a large expanse of open space, where children’s football matches were played on Saturday mornings. Two rusty goalposts adorned each end of the pitch. Black crows gathered at the centre spot, feasting on what looked like a leftover kebab. To the left of the field stood a children’s playground, fenced in, with brightly coloured swings and slides. On the right was a small yellow café with a mini crazy golf course at the front. The exit to the park was at the far end, two streets away from the station. Shaving around five minutes off my journey.