13-year-old dies of cancer and going through their belongings parents find a heartbreaking letter behind mirror

On May 28 Athena Orchard, a 13-year-old high-schooler, lost her battle against osteosarcoma (bone cancer), which affected her spine, left shoulder, and head.

Her devastated family has found a little relief in something she secretly left behind: a 3.000-word note written with a black marker on the back of the mirror in her bedroom, according to Daily Mail.

Her father, Dean, discovered the secret message in the family home in Leicester, England. Her words reveal the most intimate feelings of a girl that had bravely fought for her life.

The heartbreaking note reads: ‘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.’

33-year-old Dean, said about the note: ‘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 left behind six sisters and three brothers. But her mother, Caroline, 37, said that the note her late daughter left for her family will help them keep her memory alive.

The following is a fragment of Athena’s letter:

‘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.’