Smiling Stinkies

I know everyone says this but WHY do rats live such short lives. I feel like I've barely had the time to get to know mine, and 2 out of 3 of my girls are gone already, with the thirs being over 3 years old, alone and very sick. I couldn't get mkre due to life getting in the way, so she has to spend the last period of her life by herself; I live in a different coutry and she stays with my parents, so she doesn't even have someone permanently staying in a room with her, bc my dad takes care of her and only spends about 1h a day with her. Rehoming her wasn't an option: by the time her sister died, they were too old, and the vet said the stress would be worse than the loneliness.

I get so sad any time I'm around her, because she's a reminder that my other two girls are gone, and soon all I'll be left with is an empty cage.