Dear Nikko,

I hope this letter finds you well. I hope you’re breathing clean air, eating whole foods, and drinking pure water. I miss you so much, and I know you still have that graduation picture of me hanging in your hallway. I hope it reminds of you all of the sacrifices I made for you. I didn’t go to college to get a degree so I could be successful. I studied hard until sweat dripped from my brow, because I wanted you to be successful. I wanted my great nieces and nephews to have a life where there is no asthma, no cancer, no obesity. I hope you remember all of the times I told you to be kind to other people, because that virtue still remains true today. Say hello to every stranger. Smile when you’re feeling blue (it tricks your brain into thinking you’re yellow). Speak up for those who lost their voice a long time ago. Although I am not there physically, I am still singing you goodnight from up here. The weather is sunny all the time here; I just hope you can say the same from down there. I love you, and I want you to stand strong when everyone else is sitting down. Don’t let the blind man tell you, “I don’t see you making it very far.” Don’t let the deaf woman tell you, “Something told me you were bound to fail.” Don’t let yourself curse the wind when times get hard; when the moon turns red; when the grounds shake. Earth is just venting to the moon, the same way you do to me most nights. You’ve made it this far. You’re doing a wonderful job. Kisses to your wife (remember the day I told you she was a keeper?), and hugs to the kids. I’ll see you again soon.

Love, your favorite big sister and best friend,

Thalia