Speechless

I just found out that one of my students has died. There are no words that I can find for this. I was aware that she would most likely have a shortened life expectancy due to her genetic conditions, but no one expected it to be this short. And even understanding in concept that she would not live long is different than knowing that she is no longer living. Five years is not a lifetime. I do not know how to try to make this make sense when just about two weeks ago I held a "healthy" child and cheered as she showed off her growing physical skills. My only peace comes from knowing that she is free now from the tubes that she hated so much, from the braces and confining equipment that she always wanted to escape, and from the treatments that she would fight. I can not imagine how much her family is hurting because just as her teacher, just as someone who was honored to know her and care for her, my heart is breaking. Little One, fly free and learn what it is to dance.