Dispatches To My Children

If I die today, what will my young children have to know how much I loved them? A young father's death moved me to write them these letters.

Words have a longevity I do not.

—Paul Kalanithi, When Breathe Becomes Air

Note: This story was updated to its book version in October 2023.

It was 5 a.m., and despite the darkness that enveloped the room, I knew immediately after opening my eyes there wasn’t a chance I was going to fall back asleep.

It’s not uncommon for me to wake up hours before the ala…