Dear Zee-Zee,   I didn’t get to say goodbye the day you departed from this world. A brief text broke the news. We knew your health was on the decline, so it wasn’t unexpected.  I remember seeing you weeks before while you were lying in a hospital bed, mumbling in Italian with your eyes barely open. ...

Content warning: This piece mentions topics of sexual harassment. Please read with discretion I was the eleven-year-old girl who ran to the back of the library, clutching a book, drawn into a world of imagination. Dreams of my fairytale world consumed me, ready to whisk me away to a realm of freedom and wild joy.  Then suddenly, you appeared as my knight in shining armor. ...

To my future self, First of all, what’s going on? How have you been? I hope all the answers are positive, even if I’m not sure what you’ll say right now. The unknown is always something that sends a wave of dread down my spine and throughout my soul. However, I can’t ignore all the ...

To the young woman who’s going to do amazing things, How can I express my pride in you? Nineteen years ago, I never imagined the baby I held would have such a profound impact on  me. With each passing year, I have seen your creative spirit blossom as you found your voice, passion, and identity. ...

I have been thinking about change. I used to say all of the time when I was younger that I would move to London when I was older. My future career was a doctor who was a consultant for the police department. Now, about twenty-three years later, I still live in the United States. I ...

Dear 17-year-old Jordan, I won’t ask how you’re doing right now. 16 was an awkward year for us, so I already know the answer. I know that it seems like life is out to get you. I wish I could promise that the next four years are so much easier. I can’t. But I can ...

I know that being a doctor cannot be easy. Almost every day, you make choices that will have a lasting impact on the lives of patients and their families. When operating, their lives are in your hands. One mistake can end a life as quickly as the answer can save one. I respect what you ...

Dear Ava, I want you to be sensitive but strong. I hope you have a sense of self and find happiness in the simple things. A beautiful flower, the glow of the moon, or time spent with family. I hope you have sense of humor that will allow you to laugh at yourself despite your ...

“And you can tell everybody, that this is your song. It may be quite simple, but now that it’s done; I hope you don’t mind, that I put down in words, how wonderful life is while you’re in the world.” -Elton John Dear Husband, We have made it through life together for sixteen years! Can ...