I was blessed to be married to him for five years and I’ve mothered my children for less time than that. Now, my life is almost over and you are going to take my place. You’ll become the wifewho grows old with Alex, and you’ll become the only mother my children will ever know. You can’t imagine how terrible it is to lie in bed, staring at my family and knowing these things, andrealizing there’s nothing I can do to change them. Sometimes, I dream that I’ll find a way to come back, that I can find a way to ensure they’re going to be all right. I like to believe that I’ll watch overthem from heaven, or that I can visit them in their dreams. I want to pretend that my journey isn’t over and I pray that the boundless love I feel for them will somehowmake it possible.

This is where you come in. I want you to do something for me.

If you love Alex now, then love him forever. Make him laugh again, and cherish the time you spend together. Take walks and ride your bikes, curl up on the couch and watch movies beneath ablanket. Make him breakfast, but don’t spoil him. Let him make breakfast for you as well, so he can showyou he thinks you’re special. Kiss him and make love to him, and consider yourself luckyfor having met him, for he’s the kind of man who’ll prove you right.

I also want you to love my children in the same way I do. Help them with their homework and kiss their scraped elbows and knees when they fall. Run your hand through their hair and assurethem they can do anything they put their mind to. Tuck them in at night and help them say their prayers. Make their lunches; support them in their friendships. Adore them, laugh with them, helpthem growinto kind, independent adults. What you give them in love, they’ll return tenfold in time, if only because Alex is their father.

Please. I beg you, do these things for me. After all, they are your family now, not mine.

I’m not jealous or angry that I’ve been replaced by you; as I mentioned already, I consider you a friend. You’ve made my husband and children happy, and I wish I were around to be able tothank you in person. Instead, all I can do is assure you that you have my everlasting gratitude.

If Alex has chosen you, then I want you to believe that I have chosen you as well.

Your friend in spirit,

Carly Jo