"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

Wow I don’t really know where to start. I guess I should start out by saying how much I miss you. I miss you more than I thought possible. It’s a pain that never really goes away…and people say time heals everything but it’s been 10 years and I still hurt like hell. Although I’m handling it better than I used to. I’ll be 18 in a few weeks and it’s crazy to think you won’t be here to see me graduate and go to college. I’d like to think you would be proud of me if you were still here. You were my everything. I was definitely a daddy’s girl even if it was only for those 8 short years. I remember you like it was yesterday that we were taking our nightly walks in Petersburg. I was young but I still remember so many little details…they haunt me actually. I cannot describe how much it hurts to not have you here with me. It honestly fucked me up quite a bit. I’m coping now though. I’ve realized that if I hold on to this grief forever it will only prevent me from finding happiness. It helps to type this all out and I hope whoever reads this can relate. Losing someone you love so deeply is a tradegy. That’s the best word to describe it. Of course every experience is different but it all centers around one thing, pain. Please do not take your family for granted. Cherish them. Cherish every minute you have with them because they could be taken from you at any time. I love you dad. I love you so damn much and I can only hope that I will see you again one day.