"More than a stunning debut. It is the announcement of a bold new literary voice"
—Stephen Chbosky, author of The Perks of Being a Wallflower

I hope you’re up there watching me, ’cause I know that you would be proud of me and of what I’ve achieved but most of all of who I’ve become and of the fact that I found love, the love of my life. You would have wanted that for me.

You have been gone for more than 15 years, and I don’t think of you every day, but when I do, I miss you, but I think good thoughts about you. You taught me a lot about being human, being nice to others and proud of myself. Never to let stupid people bring me down. You were always good to me, but you also always spoke your mind, and sometimes it hurt me or made me mad, but afterwards it always made sense what you had said, and I had to admit, that you were right.

I was living in another country most of the time while you were ill. And when you were dying I tried to make it home, I really did, but I was to late, only a few hours, but I was late, I’m so sorry. I never got to say goodbye and it still haunts me. Why is it so important? I loved you, you knew that, but still, I would have wanted to be there for you one last time. But everything I do today, the way I am, the way I think – you are in there somewhere with me, so in a way you never left, and maybe it’s a good thing that I never got to say goodbye, then you can be with me forever.

You were not my real father, but you were the only one I ever knew as a father, and my life wouldn’t have been the same without you. I can still start to cry when I think about you, and I do while I am writing this letter, but I’m glad you were there for so many important years in my life, and I hope I’ll see you on the other side.