A 12-year-old girl, who died from cancer last month, left a secret note to her family before on the back of her mirror before her death.
Athena Orchard's "heartbreaking" message was found by her father, Dean, a few days after his daughter passed away on 28 May.
"She never mentioned it, but it’s the kind of thing she’d do," he told the Leicester Mercury. "I started reading it but before long I had to stop because it was too much, it was heartbreaking."
Athena's family and her mirror
Athena was diagnosed with osteosarcoma last year. According to Macmillan Cancer Support, osteosarcoma usually develops in growing bones. It can occur at any age, but it is most commonly found in teenagers and young adults, and is slightly more common in males.
Athena Orchard
Her words are touching, reflective and insightful. We've included some of them below.
"Happiness is a direction not a destination."
"Every day is special, so make the most of it."
"You could get a life-ending illness tomorrow so make the most of every day… Life is only bad if you make it bad."
"Love is not about who you can see spending your future with it’s about who you can’t see spending your life without."
"Life is a game for everyone but love is the only prize."
"Maybe it’s not about the happy ending, maybe it’s about the story."
"You know my name, not my story."
"You have heard what I’ve done, but not what I’ve been through."
"The purpose of life is a life of purpose."
"Happiness depends upon ourselves."
"The difference between ordinary and extraordinary is that little extra."
"Thank you for existing. Be happy, be free, believe, forever young."
"If someone loves you then they wouldn’t let you slip away no matter how hard the situation is."
"Remember that life is full of ups and downs, without the downs the ups don’t mean anything."
"I’m waiting to fall in love with someone I can open my heart to."
"Love is like glass, looks so lovely, but it’s easy to shatter."
"Love is rare, life is strange, nothing lasts and people change."
"Every day is special, so make the most of it. You could get a life-ending illness tomorrow so make the most of every day."
"Life is only bad if you make it bad."