Admittedly, I have seen just about everything in my nearly two decades working in newspapers. I’ve covered tragedies, disasters and unique celebrations. I’ve seen things I wish that I had not and been a part of events I will one day brag about to my grandchildren.

Through all of this, I had started to feel I was desensitized to the world around me. I had come to believe that nothing shocked me anymore and that I had seen it all.

That was until I became a father, and before I had to cover the news events of the past few days.

The news that broke Thursday about the death of a 6-month-old little girl was heart wrenching. Everyone in our newsroom and in our building was sick to learn that a life so precious had been cut so short.

On Thursday, all we knew was that this little girl had died and that medical and police officials were still working to determine what had happened.

On Friday, my emotion and that of those around me, went from sorry to anger when we learned the little girl had been the victim of a homicide. Who could do such a thing, we asked. What did this little girl, likely weeks away from saying her first words and months away from taking a first step, do to deserve to be killed?

We do not know what happened and as of Saturday morning, Selma Police are still working to determine what led to this small child’s death. We hope they find out what happened soon and that those responsible are held responsible.

I will admit that if this story had taken place last year or five years ago, I would have felt sorry for the family, but I would have quickly moved on to the next story, the next assignment.

But all I could do this time was fight the overwhelming urge to race home and hug my 4-month-old son. I wanted nothing more than to hold him tight, play with his little feet and do whatever I needed to do to get one of those amazing little smiles that light up my life.

I do not know what happened to little Janiyah Wilson, but I do know she is no longer with us and she will not have the luxury of reaching her first birthday or playing with friends during recess at school.

This week showed me that I have not become desensitized to the world around me and it is my hope that makes me far better at the job I am asked to do. I just hope part of that job is reporting on the arrest and conviction of those responsible for Janiyah’s death.