“The death of a child is the single most traumatic event… To lose a child is to lose a piece of yourself.” – Dr Burton Grebin

I couldn’t stop the tears that filled my eyes after hearing about the tragic event that unfolded on Friday morning in Connecticut. Right now, I don’t write this as a man or as an American, but as a child and as a sibling, as a relative and as a genuine human being. The idea that such an event can happen in this world is sinister.

Although I am not a parent, I cannot imagine the degree of loss associated to that of a child. A child that is still developing, still growing, still learning, and still Loving unconditionally. The thought of a life that is taken away before it got to experience the wondrous and glorious things that life has to offer. The loss of a life so near and close to such a family oriented holiday. The loss of the glitter in a child’s eyes not when he or she sees presents under the Christmas tree, but when they see their mom or dad return home from work.

What has happened today was an extremely horrifying event. I’ve asked myself all day long how a human being could perform such an act, and I can only shake my head. We cannot let our focus waver towards the recognition of this perpetrator who committed this act selfishly and for commemoration. Instead our focus should only converge onto the memorializing and honoring of the 20 children, and six adults that were unexpectedly stripped from this world too soon. May the families and loved ones affected by this travesty be forever comforted by their friends, families and their communities.

“In the English language there are orphans and widows, but there are no words for parents who lose a child.” ― Jodi Picoult