The book is dedicated to my fiancé Brett. He took his own life at the age of 38.

On that day, my long journey towards healing began. It is a journey that will never end.

"I don't know how to tell you this..."

With those words, my entire life changed.

Brett and I had been together for more than ten years. Like most couples, we saw our share of romantic and rocky days. But we were always there for one another; to fight the battles, to dry the tears, to kiss away the hurt. Now my best friend was gone, and the last words I said to him were, "I never want to talk to you again."

I remember cleaning out a closet years after Brett's death and finding a letter I had written to him right after I spread his ashes in Hawaii. I sat on the floor and read that letter over and over again. I felt so alone when I wrote it and even more alone reading it all that time later. I don't want anyone to feel that emptiness. That's why I gathered the stories for this book.

I still don't understand why Brett left us, but after all these years, I smile a lot more when I think of him. I smile when I remember the dance he did every morning when getting ready for work. I smile when I think of how he rescued our kitty, Calvin, from the garbage bin. I smile when I read the beautiful cards he wrote to me over the years. I keep those cards tucked away for the private love story I still, from time to time read.

Gathering life stories for this book was part of my own healing process. The stories are about people from all over the world - fathers and mothers, sisters and brothers, friends and lovers - all who ended their lives. The letters that follow the stories are written by their loved ones who were left behind.

Please visit the Book Preview. There you will find my book's Table of Contents, Acknowledgments, and three complete sample chapters. You will also find the About the Author section.

Thank you for taking the time to read this. And I wish you the best in your own journey.