Years ago, I lent a friend who was studying abroad 1500$, because she was struggling financially with her tuition and I thought she had potential.

Sent her an email not long ago asking to meet so that I'd inquire if she could repay me assuming she was better off now.

Well, as it turns out, I Googled her and she died a few months ago in a car accident.

Life can be so transient...

nothing about feeling cheap... stuff happens... at least you know what happened and at least you know is some way you helped her fulfill a dream in some part in her life.. just hang onto that!

Wow, that's such tragedy.

I sincerely hope that she manage to succeed and like the poster above me, at least you did help her out.

There are parts of a ship which taken by themselves would sink.
The engine would sink.
The propeller would sink.
But when the parts of a ship are built together, they float.
So with the events of my life.
Some have been tragic.
Some have been happy.
But when they are built together, they form a craft that floats and is going someplace.
And I am comforted.

Ralph W. Sockman

I don't think she'll have to worry about success at much anymore...it says she died above. :\

Well, I meant that I hope that she did succeed before the untimely demise.

Must have been a real shocker. Like you said, life can be transient; and, as Starkrun already mentioned, at least you played an important role in her life. If nothing else, at least you should come out stronger, with a more positive outlook towards life.

Although I feel compelled to ask: do you know why you weren't informed by her family about her passing?

Yeah, she graduated university. Industrial engineering. She was very happy about that. Her parents are in Cameroun. I never met them.

She came over here from Africa to study and build a career.

We were good friends in university and then we lost touch.

I met her when I tried to help her with her maths.

At first, I thought she needed help, but then it became obvious she was very smart and could manage it on her own.