"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 miss u so much. I can’t live another day without u in it. It hurts to even think about you. Now that ur gone everyone has been changing. Including School, home, and everywhere else.I can’t believe u left so soon and even at the age of 13. U were so beautiful and amazing. Sometimes I wish I could go back before u left us and be with u every second of the day. To know what u went threw. But everyone should know that GOD ONLY TAKES THE ONES THAT BELONG WITH HIM.I LOVE U EMMA. FLY HIGH.

I miss you a little more each day. I think what makes it harder is knowing I didn’t get to say goodbye. I’m sorry by the way… I’m sorry you went through all that pain. I’m sorry you had to deal with so much drama on your last days. Finally, I’m sorry you never made it home. When I learned you were moving back I was so excited. Mom told me you’d be living with grandma and that made me SUPER happy because she was your best friend. I was relieved. Finally something good was happening to you after all the bad that came your way. You never gave up your faith or hope. It’s funny. You kind of remind me of Aunt Amy. Into church and super Holy. But as you would always say… God has a reason for everything and he wanted you to be with him. An though I miss you like crazy I know you’re finally happy and pain free. I miss you Tia I do but I can assure you I never stop thinking of you. EVERYTIME I eat Ben & Jerry Phish food I smile and thank you quietly because thanks to you ... Read more

I remember how we would always play together and we would sit next to each other to eat dinner with grandma. I would always color you and her pictures. I miss that. I wrote a poem about you in the sixth grade. I know you could hear me read it to you at the poetry slam. I got fifth place. You passed away on Christmas Eve. I was angry that God took you that night, but grandma told me that He needed another angel. It has been eight years since you have passed away. Sometimes I miss you so much that I wish you would take me with you. I know that we will see each other again and everything will be okay. Let me know how you are doing where you are, okay? I love you with all my heart. You are my best friend.

I miss you so much. It’s been about 5 years and I still cry all the time. You were the best grandma I had. We used to make puzzles and play cards and do everything. I Wish you were still here. You died from cancer and I just miss you. It took you away from me and I hate it. It’s weird saying I hate a thing that has no emotions but I do. I hate that I’m still here and you aren’t. I wish I could be with you.

Sometimes when I enter my password on my phone I get this heavy weight on my chest. I know its sadness. I know its the weight of missing someone I didn’t know. I know its you. On the last night of the year, I cried with Alan in a bedroom, far away from the party downstairs because we aren’t strong enough to ignore the pain of not having you in our lives. I never had the chance to meet you, never knew your smile or your laugh, but I know your love. I know it because it is in the way my dad hugs my tight on holidays and reads at your grave. I know it because it is in the way all of your children take care of each other. I know it because they won’t forget it. I wonder who I would be if you were here, with me, experiencing everything that has happened. I wonder if you would have been happy when I was born, the only girl. I wonder if I would have learned to be happy sooner.

I just learned the news about your departure to another -I hope much better- place.

I’m writing because I feel you should know that even though I wasn’t really aware of your greatness when I was younger, when I watched The perks of being a wallflower for the first time -and fell in love with the story right away- , the scene in the pickup where Charlie is taking a ride with his friends, the friends he loves more than anything, the ones who make him happier than anyone in the world, when your song “Heroes” starts playing on the radio, well, when I watched that I simply felt infinite. That’s when I decided to read the book and right after that I went to the bookstore to find another good piece of writing, another story that would make me feel sad, and happy, and melancholic, I found Love Letters to the Dead.

See, for me everything fits in a perfectly designed place, I don’t necessarily believe in a particular God -even though I was raised a catholic-, but I believe all things hapen for a reason, even terrible things. I don´t know, this may sound a little corny but ... Read more

Tomorrow is a week since you left. I feel like saying what really happens makes it true. That you’re gone and not coming back. I liked you for the longest time and cried when you tried to commit a week before you did. And then you appeared out of no where saying you were fine. I was so mad. So mad. I cared so much about you and you ignored me. I wanted to be the one to help you. I wanted to be the one to make you feel safe. A few days later you said you finally came out of the closet and I said that’s brave and I’m proud. And you ignored me again. You finally actually talked back to me. I was happy. You said a few days later that your girlfriend left you because you said you liked guys and girls. You said everyone hated you. But I didn’t. I never did. It was like I didn’t exsist to you. You didn’t think that you had me. Well you did. I don’t know why I even care. You never cared about me. You stopped talking to me. I was so mad. I opened up ... Read more

Quando o senhor se foi, eu tinha 7 anos. Nós não estávamos na mesma cidade. Eu lembro do telefone tocando, da minha madrinha atendendo, olhando-me e anunciando: “o vovô morreu”. Eu não posso dizer o que senti naquela época porque eu não tenho certeza se podia compreender o que aquelas três palavras queriam dizer. Mas, sabe, depois de um tempo eu senti bastante. Tenho poucas lembranças, mas a mais nítida foi de certa vez em que o senhor me deixou usar um martelo para fazer cacos. O senhor improvisou um martelo para poder fazer o mesmo, já que a única ferramenta eficaz para o serviço estava comigo e eu estava mais brincando do que qualquer outra coisa. O senhor me mimou dessa vez e eu quero ter mais lembranças que essa, mas não tenho. A mamãe ficou bem triste com a sua partida, como era de se esperar. Ela viajou até onde o senhor estava, mas não o encontrou com vida. Temos fotos do seu velório. Deu para notar que o senhor era bem querido porque as pessoas nas fotos parecem realmente afetadas com a sua partida. A minha avó também sente muito a sua falta, mas ela poderia ser ... Read more

And it’s funny because i thought i knew you but it turns out i never knew you never even had a glimpse. and i get it you’re growing up, and you’re changing but this isnt one of those times where you stray so far From where you’re supposed to be and find yourself exactly where you’re meant to be, no this is you straying into oblivion and of course i’d go to hell and back to save you, but you’re not letting me. I dont know why, maybe because you need to save yourself first, but all i know is I’m beating on these walls and knocking on all the doors waiting for you to let me in because you blocked me out the one person i was sure wouldn’t and it’s funny because i let you in i was deceived by your pretense of innocence being young doesnt make you innocent i realized this now i hoped i could save you from feeling everything i’ve felt the loneliness the sadness the feeling of not belonging the feeling of being unloved the feeling of everyone seeming better than you but you didn’t let me. I guess that’s my constant flaw. i want to save the people who don’t want to be saved, the ones who enjoy being a walking travesty. i dont know why i’m so addicted to this, of getting my heart crushed, but i find myself always coming back ... Read more

You were my mentor for years. I looked up to you for so long. Before the sickness overrode your abilities, you had the most marvelous voice, a love for English, a dry sense of humor, a passion for people, and a fiery attitude even death couldn’t extinguish. In church, Carla gave me the solo you sang before you fell ill. She told me you would have loved it. I almost cried singing it because I hoped it would make you proud. I keep your nametag in my choir folder for support when I’m nervous. I never got the chance to tell you my goal was to become an English major to teach or write books. My English teachers say they’ve never seen a student with so much potential and determination. I wish I had more time with you to tell you and get advice from you. I know you’re not suffering anymore, but it still hurts knowing that I will never be able to see you in the seats anymore. If only I had a few more hours with you before you went. I suppose I’ll see you eventually. Tell your mother I say hi and send my love.