"It's drizzling in Düsseldorf. It's exactly the right weather for a devastated city."

How the Germanwings tragedy feels, up close.

It’s been raining for the past couple of days in Düsseldorf. I look outside the window as I sit to write this and it’s grey and drizzling. The constant drizzle is fitting for how it feels to be in this city right now.

It’s a city in a state of mourning, a city in complete shock. It feels like everything is at a standstill. Düsseldorf is a humble and open-minded place that feels uncomfortable in the spotlight – especially when the spotlight is shined on an overwhelming tragedy.

When my husband and I first heard the news about flight 4U 9525 our immediate feelings were of shock and fear.

We were due to fly this same route in two weeks’ time with the same airline, on the same plane. “What’s wrong with the plane?” we thought. “Should we fly with them?” “How often do they maintain their fleet?” It feels so selfish now to think these were our first thoughts, yet there were still so many unanswered questions.

As news about the flight continued to unfold, the whole nation was glued to the TV and constantly seeking updates online. We learned that there were no survivors, and our initial thoughts about whether our own flight was in jeopardy turned to utter sadness for the passengers and their loved ones. It was simply unfathomable and I couldn’t stop thinking about all of these people and what they must have been feeling.

Related content: Transcript reveals the desperate attempts to save Germanwings flight. “For God’s sake, open the door!”

The next day my husband called. He said that he had some bad news. He told me that his teammate at work was one of the passengers on the plane. I was dumbfounded – at first I couldn’t believe it. I asked him if he wanted to come home, but his team remained together at work in solidarity, supporting each other. I couldn’t imagine how they must be feeling. We ended the call with the usual “Ich liebe dich”  [I love you], however this time it felt more important than ever to say it.

My husband’s colleague was a person who had absolutely everything to live for – a positive and happy person who, together with their long-term partner, travelled to Barcelona with all the very best intentions. It sounded like a romantic getaway; a long weekend in one of Europe’s most stunning cities. The thought crossed my mind if they had plans to marry. Perhaps this was the trip where they would get engaged. We’ll never know. Their beautiful life together was cut short way too soon.

Want more? Try: Germanwings flight: Investigators find evidence that pilot was not fit to fly.

As the world remains glued to the news and the real cause and motive for this tragedy has come to light – I make a choice not to focus on these bytes of information. I prefer to share a message that we can all take away from this devastation:

Life is fleeting, life is precious. Grab it with both hands and a full heart. Don’t let pettiness take over – put things into perspective. Tell your loved ones you love them. Remember that you are alive, healthy and happy – and that’s all that matters.

It could have been us and we are so grateful it wasn’t. But we will continue to stand together and mourn the loss of so many people, from all corners of the globe, who had every good intention that day.

As I turn towards the window, I can see small patches of blue in the sky and the first rays of sun.

Tanya Garma is an Australian expat currently living in Düsseldorf, Germany with her husband. She work’s as a freelance brand communications consultant and writer.