"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

It’s been about 3 months since you died and mom is still healing. I’m still healing. It’s hard to get over you whenever you were in my life for 11 years. You were my step dad but I looked up to you like an actual dad. So did my brother. His dad walked out on him, just like how my dad also walked away from him. You were his everything but then you made wrong decisions and ended up dying because of drugs. Now my brother is on a bad path. You made so many promises and broke my mom’s heart, you broke my heart. I don’t hate you though. You just had a bad childhood and fell into a hole. You tried to save yourself but you were too late. You were lost and couldn’t be found. Now we have to move on. I miss you everyday and miss your jokes and hearing the sound of your truck pulling up. I miss the sound of your boots on the kitchen tile and the way you made mom smile. I wish things could have been different and I wish drugs didn’t take you away. I’m starting my sophomore year now though, time is passing. I have to move on. I love you and miss the person you once were. No amount of what if’s or wishes will bring you back. So until I see you again, I love and miss you.