"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 never understood why you had to leave. You were so healthy and we all thought you would live forever. Then you got cancer. The last thing you said to me was “don’t wait so long to see me next time.” I never got a next time. I wanted to say I’m sorry for not going to the funeral. It hurt too bad, and I didn’t want to imagine you as dead. I wanted to keep that perfect image of you in my mind. But now I feel like that would have given me closure. When things were bad at home you provided a bright, warm, comforting light, and like in the book, I was a moth drawn to it. Now, I have no one to turn to. I never gave myself the opportunity to heal but I don’t blame you for leaving and I am not angry about it anymore. I just wanted to say I love you, and I’m sorry for not visiting as much. I miss you and I really can’t wait for the day that I see you again. You always told me to get along with my stepmom, that I shouldn’t fight her. That no matter how cruel she is to me, that I should repay her in kindness. You always made me see the positive things in life but I was always so very negative. I promise that I’ll try harder.

J’taime infini grandmere.