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In the days after Melody's death, there were candlelight vigils as well as bake sales to help raise money for the funeral. In Melody's honor, songs and raps were written, filmed and sent over the Internet. Thousands of mourners poured their emotions out on a memorial Web page, communicating with her as if she were reading their words. Black shirts were worn in her honor in Long Beach. And in Washington. And Pennsylvania. And Canada. It wasn't that she was a star student, an elite athlete or otherwise destined for greatness. She was a normal kid -- friendly, embracing, kind, close to her family. It was just that her life wasn't long enough. It was, however, long enough to matter.