She told us about black- and red-letter days. Black were for those days that were doomed, or when bad news would be handed to you. Like the day I found out I had cancer—that was a black-letter day. You—you’re my red-letter day. When I gave birth and held you for the first time, that was the start of many, many red-letter days. Celia—she explained it in words that left such an impact that, to this day, I still remember them. Red-letter days are a positive experience or when something unexpectedly phenomenal happens—you, my beautiful Chloe, are my unexpectedly phenomenal.

So, if you get to this, and you have some time left, I want you to do something for me. I want you to fight. I want you to hold on to the people around you, and I want you to fight it. And if things don’t go your way, and you find yourself losing the battle, then I want you to look back on your life and think about all the living you did. Do not let cancer be the story of your life. And don’t ever write ‘The End.’ Not until all your days are red-letter days.

I love you.

Mom