Dear Dad,

You were taken far too early. You left at an age that I was old enough to understand death, but too young to think I would lose anyone. Over the short amount of time I had you, you taught me many things. Like how to fish, how to build with lincoln logs, and how I deserve to be treated.

I do miss you, more than you could ever think. I still remember things you used to say and do as if I had last seen you yesterday. You were my best friend, my role model, and my whole world. When you left it took a huge piece of my heart, that I could never see getting back.

Sadly, you being gone so early, meant I didn't get to go to my first concert with you, tell my boyfriends to treat me right or else, have you there through my first heartbreak and tell me that boy doesn't deserve you anyways, have you there for my high school graduation, and one event I am sad to see you missing is the day I get married.

I try to see it as, you were my father for such a short time because you taught me all you had to teach me in a short period of time. It doesn't make it hurt any less. Its hard explaining to people when they ask me "Where is your dad? Why don't you live with your mom?", there is a lot to explain, and my heart drops when I have to answer these questions. It as if, I know the exact response. I know exactly the reactions I will receive.

I talk about you a lot, mostly to my boyfriend. He enjoys hearing stories about you. He loves the stories. It makes me happy knowing I can share stories about you and he will listen. I wish you could have met him. He treats your little girl the way you had always hoped a man would.

I think often of all the things you gave me, lessons and personality traits. You gave me my love for animals, my dry sense of humor, and my sarcasm. Most people get a good laugh out of it. So thank you very much dad for being one of the funniest men I had ever known.

I really worry about if I am making you proud. I think about it a lot. I hope I am, cause I really am trying my hardest to make sure I work hard and focus on what I need to focus on. I am going to school and working. I want to be a writer. Maybe even a teacher. You always said I did really well reading, spelling and writing. I try to draw when I can too.

Its hard, going through life without you here, and it probably always will be. You were my best friend and the one who was supposed to teach me more than you got the chance too. As big events in my life come and go, I know you are in my heart. I just always will wish you could be here in person.

I miss you dad. I love you.

Sincerely,

Your little girl