Every day before I leave The Vicksburg Post, it’s my job to enter in the highs and the lows for the weather forecast.

Luckily we have meteorologists who are able to get pretty close to telling us what the weather is going to be like. Unfortunately there’s no way for us to know about some of the upcoming highs and lows in our lives.

Thursday was a high. Afton Wallace graduated from Warren Central despite her diagnosis of stage IV cancer 364 days earlier. She was recognized as the Star Student and for her full-tuition scholarship to her dream school, Brigham Young University.

She mustered the strength to walk and receive her diploma, for which she was met with a standing ovation and an untold number of tears.

Afton was mentioned in every speech, and after, she told me how much of a family her class was to her, because they all supported one another, no matter what.

Thursday was a high, but this weekend Vicksburg experienced a cold snap.

Sunday morning my editor told me about the low — Afton was no longer with us.

It was a rainy day in Vicksburg Sunday, both literally and figuratively.

As the rain fell from clouds and tears from eyes, this city experienced a low.

Sunday’s news reminded me of an exercise we did in my abnormal psychology class. Our professor asked us to take out a sheet of paper and write on it how long we thought was the appropriate amount of time to grieve after a loved one’s passing.

As she read the responses — two months, six months, a year — I remember her pausing as she got to mine — however long it takes.

Denial and isolation, anger, bargaining, depression and finally, acceptance: take your time, but as a community we will get through this, together.

But at the same time I’m reminded of Afton’s resonating words, “no one wants to be sad all of the time,” and “You have to take the happiness when you can,” and “It’s easiest if you put a smile on your face.”

Like Afton said, it’s easiest to count your blessings if you’re in a good mood.

Afton was the sunshine in so many people’s lives, but after Sunday’s sunset, there’s going to be some darkness.

Until the next high, just keep swimming.