I have so much marking to get through. I just can't get my head around it. This morning I attended a memorial service for one of our students who was killed in horrible circumstances. Such a sad, terrible loss. She was 18. A beautiful girl. I don't know how her mother copes. She spoke beautifully today, with such strength. I know she did that for her daughter and it breaks my heart. The young woman wasn't in my class but so many of my students were there - many of them closely affected by the tragedy. I just want to spend some time thinking about them and the victim and her family and reflecting on how precious life is. When news broke we did not know the names of the students involved but we knew they were ours. I just wanted to spend the day touching my students making sure they were real, trying vainly to protect them - their vibrant spirits so tough yet so fragile. Eternal rest grant unto her ... and peace for her family.