Athena Orchard was diagnosed with osteosarcoma at the age of 12, a form of bone cancer after collapsing in her family’s home in New Parks, Leicester.
Sadly last week, parents Dean and Caroline, bid farewell to their beautiful daughter.
Unbeknownst to her family the 13-year-old left a poignant secret for them to find.
On the back of her bedroom mirror Athena’s Dad discovered hidden message – 3.000 words long – to her parents and siblings, displaying her unfettered positive outlook on life despite her diagnosis and crippling illness.
“I couldn’t believe it, I saw all this writing,” Dean told The Daily Mail.
“She never mentioned it, but it’s the kind of thing she’d do. She was a very spiritual person, she’d go on about stuff that I could never understand – she was so clever.”
Athena celebrated her 13th Birthday shortly before her death.
Athena wrote openly and honestly about finding love, living life and happiness.
“Love is rare, life is strange, nothing lasts and people change”.
Athena’s Mum explained: “We knew that Athena loved to write, that was part of who she was, it made her happy.
“Dean started to try and read the message but then he just broke out in tears. She was an incredible girl, so bright and so strong, she continually amazed me.
“Just reading her words felt like she was still here with us. She had such an incredible spirit”.
An excerpt from the writing reads:
“Happiness depends upon ourselves. Maybe it’s not about the happy ending, maybe it’s about the story.
The purpose of life is a life of purpose. The difference between ordinary and extraordinary is that little extra.
Happiness is a direction not a destination. Thank you for existing. Be happy, be free, believe, forever young. You know my name, not my story.
You have heard what I’ve done, but not what I’ve been through. 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.
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.
Never give up on something you can’t go a day without thinking about. I want to be that girl who makes the bad days better and the one that makes you say my life has changed since I met her!
Love is not about how much you say I love you – it’s about how much you can prove it’s true. Love is like the wind, you can feel it but you can’t see it. I’m waiting to fall in love with someone I can open my heart to.
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 prize. Only I can judge me.
Sometimes love hurts. Now I’m fighting myself. Baby I can feel your pain. Dreams are my reality. It hurts but it’s okay, I’m used to it.
Don’t be quick to judge me, you only see what I choose to show you… you don’t know the truth. I just want to have fun and be happy without being judged.
This is my life, not yours, don’t worry about what I do. People gonna hate you, rate you, break you, but how strong you stand, that’s what makes you… you!
There’s no need to cry because I know you’ll be by my side”.
All images via The Daily Mail
