Anyone else find it strange how you don't understand how important people are to you until they're in danger?

Today when I got back from my morning classes at 12:30, I got a text message from Chris Paulson, a good friend of mine.  Proceeding to yell at him for texting me *my plan doesn't include texts* I then read its contents:
"Platte is under hostage right now.  I don't know who. Ryan told me. Sorry for texting.  I thought you'd wanna know."

what?

I raced and turned the tv on, opened up the curtains, and frantically started looking for the tv-changer.  Elyse, my room mate, woke up and was like "What's wrong?" "My high school is under hostage."  I got to 9 news and sure enough..it was true.  There was a hostage situation at my high school.  I then, being fragile moi, began to fall apart into hysterics.  I guess that gene from my mom is hereditary after all.  I picked up the phone and quickly called marissa and started screaming what was going..she didn't understand a word I was saying, so I slowly yelled:
"Turn on your fucking TV, mer!"

We were both in shock with tears and fear, calling everyone we knew, calling every soul we could think of to call.  No one was answering their phones, it seemed...no one knew anything.  But there were hostages.  There was at least one gun.
And at least one time..it had been shot.

All day I was in panic, listening intently to the glorious words: "No reported injuries."  I ironically ran into everyone I know from Platte Canyon here today...it was ridiculous how it brought everyone together.  I spend much of the day in shock, everyone in tears or a mix of the two, and I spent more time on the phone today than I have had ever with this phone.  Thank God for IN calling.  I talked to Johno more today than ever before, got calls from everyone I know from Summit high school.

After my theatre class, the rumors among us inside the track had the word: Emily Keyes was one of the hostages, the other name was not known because they could only catch a couple of the faces going by.  The man was dead, and he'd shot one of the hostages.
I began to pray that my friend Emily was not among those named.

In the three hours between me finding out she was a hostage and about 8 o'clock, everything seemed rather fine.  Someone was in the hospital but they kept saying they were going to pull her through.  After making more numerous calls, I got one I did not expect.
Mike, my good friend, the one mentioned in my blog of "I'm ready now," called me in an inconsoleable tone that I had never heard before, and he told me the news that I was not supposed to know.

Emily was the one who was shot, he told me where she was shot.
She did not make it.

I was silent for ... I don't know how long, and then proceeded the same stages of grief and panic I had before....crying, frantically calling my two platte companions here, and my family...shortly after I had heard it from Mike, it was on the news.  Her name was not released but we all knew who it was.

More calls were made.  more blog and bulletin postings to spread our prayers and love to her and her family.  I can't imagine what I would feel knowing my sister was gone, or a daughter.  But she was my friend, and I loved her.

We all love Emily, but in a way her death has brought about new love...all of us have been brought closer together because of it, though we all secretly hope it was for a different reason.  I have been more in contact with old friends today than I ever have been.  And nothing can be more comforting that life is precious than the voices of thought long-lost friends.
I love all of you.  Each and every one.  I am the kind of person that says that a lot but it's just for this reason.
Emily knew that I loved her because I told her often that I did.  Keep telling the ones you love that you do, in fact, love them; they'll never forget.  And you'll never regret.

Love to Emily, her family, the Keyes', and love to all my friends out there who suffered the same worry and fear that I did today, and especially to those at Platte Canyon today.
My heart is and always will be with you.
Amber