"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

the way you left was so peaceful. you were ready for it. you knew what was coming and surrounded yourself with the ones you loved. loved. i’ll never quite get used to the past tense. i feel like i didn’t quite know you well enough. after it happened, we had to go through all your belongings. it felt like stealing. but seeing all these things i learned so much about you, and i wish i had known you or even remembered you before we went to visit and found you bald and too skinny. it scared me so much. things like these aren’t supposed to happen. you were only 35. like a brother to my mom. sometimes, when i can’t sleep, she tells me stories about how you climbed trees together and she dangled by her knees, hair flopping everywhere. i miss you. i miss what could’ve been you. i missed you.