"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

Te echo muchísimo de menos. Yo realmente no me lo imaginaba. No me imaginaba que te iba a a dar un tercer derrame. Yo realmente tenía fe de que despertarías del coma pero no fue así, pues solo duraste 15 días más, los 15 días más angustiosos de mi vida. Te necesito aquí de nuevo, mamá te necesita, la tía, la abuela, Aitor… Quiero verte por favor … No me pude despedir de ti, mamá me lo prohibió. Pero yo necesitaba hacerlo… Te echo de menos. Te quiero y perdóname por favor . Sé que ya no estás aquí, ni en el cielo ni en ningún otro lado sino que estás descansando en tu tumba pero aún guardo las esperanzas de que te veré pronto, me lo ha prometido Jehová.

Hi. How’s it going? I bet you’re doing fine now. Since you just died earlier this morning. I was shocked to hear the news, Gela. I didn’t know what to do. It’s true what people say, “They’ll just care when it’s too late.” I thought it was about the suicidal people, but it’s not. When you were alive, I never really talked to you. My brother told me to try talking to you, but I never had the courage to talk to you. When I visited you at the hospital, I had this urge to talk to you, like we’re just good old friends. But I couldn’t, I never asked if you’re okay. But I was thankful I was able to visit you before you die.

When you died, I realized that life is really short. I saw your timeline at facebook and it was full of your friend’s condolences. I realized that you’re the friend I’ve been looking for. Now, you’re dead, and I never got to know you. I’m sorry for not talking to you any sooner. I can tell that your friends are blessed to have you as a friend. YourYour family is also blessed to ... Read more

I never got to meet you and yet I miss you. Maybe I don’t miss you exactly but it makes me sad that I missed out on the relationship we could’ve had. My other grandmother is crazy and will never approve of me. I don’t have the relationship I wish I could have with my grandparents. I wish you were still here. I watch my mom with my niece and nephew and know they will grow up with an everlasting bond to her and I long for that. Pa was the grandfather I loved but he’s gone too. The only grandparents I have left are the ones I want no relationship with because of the horrible things they’ve done. My mom says you would’ve loved me and I know I would’ve loved you too. My mom has given me some of your jewelry, I wear your earrings everyday. It makes me feel like I have a part of you with me.

I never had gotten to see you, yet I still miss you. You died when I was young; I don’t even remember the details of the only time I’ve seen you. All I knew back then was that you were my grandfather, who died when I was about three years old. Like the rest of my family, you were Chinese, a native of Shanghai. I knew the details of your gravestone, but not the details of your life. That all changed when I had took interest in my family history. Through wrinkled photographs and stories, I had heard more about you. You were born into a poor family with twelve siblings, passing a grade as a child. You were a genius of math and numbers, winning multiple awards for your skill at the subject. Later, you would go to Peking University, where you would meet my Lao-Lao. I wished I ... Read more

I have to start by saying that I was incredibly saddened by the news of your death. 64 was too early to go. I hope you are somewhere good, finding humour wherever you are. Your books got me through the hardest part of childhood and I still read them now in my late teens. You were indeed a true comedy genius and your humorosity and glamorosity will live on in your readers and on many many bookshelves. Thank you, thank you, thank you.

I really wanted to write to you. What can I say? I feel so sad, you know why? Yes… because of muy accident… I’m sure you know all about it. I can’t use the stairs, I can’t walk right, I can’t jump… Gosh… there are many things I can’t do… You must know I’ve been like this since February… Jesus… I’ve been like this almoat half of 2016. You know? In this month I was feeling better… I could lift my leg, I could bend it, I could walk better, I could travel on the back seats of the caer without help… But today, I couldn’t even stand up… Later I could walk, but now… I can’t lift muy leg, I can’t bend it… I can’t walk well…. I feel like I miss all that was getting better… (Gosh… Now I really want to cry…) Maybe I did more exercise that I needed… It’s just that in two weeks I’ll return to school and I want to be as well as I used to be and better than that when I come back…. Could you….? Could you help me with my health? Could you help me get better? Sometimes I could ask why did this ... Read more

I’d like to keep you really anonymous, because you’re not dead at all. I get it, this is supposed to be for dead people, but that’s pretty much what you are to me. You left. And I’m not sure if you’re ever coming back and if you do you’ve got a new life, one without me in it. So I hope you’re doing well. I wish you the best of luck when it comes to every opportunity you will ever have in your beautiful life. Just please, don’t forget about me.

It’s been weird and sad without you here. I was really confused for a while because you were the first death that meant something to me. And for a long time you were the most important person in my life. You raised me for years and losing you was like getting invaded by the Spartans. Certain things still remind me of you. My favorite band’s song and the teddy bear you gave me when I turned four. I still sleep with that bear even though the eyes and nose are missing. When I first got that bear I didn’t really like it because it was pink and I wasn’t supposed to like pink since I used to play soccer. I hope you’re doing okay because I don’t know what I’d do if you weren’t. I like to think that you’re proud of me and what I’m doing. I like to make stuff. I made this really cool crane. It was for a project where we had to recreate an artist’s work. I chose Zina Lahr. The project was called “Moving On” and it makes me think of you. I’m not going to drag this letter on, but I ... Read more

How are you? I do hope youre doing well.Its been a while.I still look up at the stars and talk to you guys,well..by stars i mean the speckles i can still see.My boyfriend and I were coming back from work and i complained that ever since i was 10,as you know about 9 years ago,there are nearly no stars in the sky.The once beautiful and full of magic and light night sky had turned into stars i could count on my hand.He looked at me really confused after i said that “What are you talking about? Theres so many of them all over.”It turns out that not the sky but my vision was a problem.That really upset me..that was one of the ways of me communicating with you and losing that was like..losing you all over again.As soon as i gather enough ill buy glasses thats a promise.I have a lot to say and ask but..ill leave it for another day.I trully hope i..havent dissappointed you too much with my choices and doings.I miss you so much,i love you so much,ill never let you go.

Você me fez pesar em May em você e em sua vida , Como ela foi e a gora como ela é …Você é real pode ler minha carta ? Como eu queria te abraçar e dizer que o que você sentiu em seu peito eu já senti !

beijos Isadora