Dear Ruby,
I'm no stranger to death. When I was just seven years old, the woman I believed was my mother vanished from the face of the earth. Pretty hard to buy into that "gone to a better place" bullshit after that. But as painful as it was when I was a kid, I've since accepted that there are people in my life, people that I know, that I am going to outlive.
I'm going to outlive Zwei. Resilient as the little guy may be, his lifespan is still just that of a corgi. About 13 years, last I checked. So I know I'm going to have to bury him at some point. I am of course going to outlive Dad, as while a human lifespan is way bigger than that of a small dog, he's still older than me by a margin of 25 years. Same goes for uncle Qrow. It's no secret that Yéyé and Nǎinai are already on their way out, so I'm outliving them as we speak.
In a weird way, I've already kinda mourned these people. Come to terms with the fact that I will, at a certain time, be living without them. Hell, I may even be with them when that happens. Because, you see, I know that they will die before I do.
Still, never, not even for a second, did it ever cross my mind that I would outlive you. I always thought, hoped, prayed, even, that I'd be the first one of us to go. I've always been the more reckless and protective of us. It stood to reason that I'd die saving you, or running into a battle I couldn't win. You know how I am.
But of course, you had to be taken out by cancer, of all things. And there's not a weapon forged that could ever defend someone from a monster like that.
Make no mistake, Ruby. I don't resent you for dying before I did. In a strange way, you're teaching me more now than I could ever teach you. I thought I had already mourned everyone I ever would mourn, but your passing taught me that if there's one thing predictable about death, it's that it can't be predicted. I'll never have as much time as I think I do, so hey. Might as well enjoy every minute while you can, huh?
…I only wish I had.
Anyway, I hope this letter finds you well, wherever you are. Say "hi" to Mom for me, and enjoy the enclosed cookie. It's white chocolate chip, your favorite. I'll write again as soon as I can.
Love,
Yang