The privilege of health is that we don’t really understand these diseases—what they take, the pain they bring, how they break people down—until we’re living with them. In this chapbook, Winston Derden offers a glimpse into his experience with Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML) . During our last conversation, Winston told me how he wanted the cover. He said, “Use Hieronymus Bosch’s Hell panel with a red wash, with AML on the right, about halfway down the page.” Pairing these together makes it clear what Winston went through—and what caused it. He had blood transfusions three times a week, a bone marrow transplant, long hospital stays, and two clinical trials with side effects nearly as bad as the disease. He lost sixty pounds. His arms stayed bruised from constant needles. He lost his balance and needed a walker. His muscles wasted away until he couldn’t walk. By the end, he was spent. The fight had taken everything but his voice. Winston was more than his diagnosis. He was a lean writer. A brutally honest editor. A homebrewer who always shared what he made. A successful house flipper. A performer who could surprise any room. And he was my friend. This book contains some of his last writings. It holds his voice, his humor, his honesty, his observations, and the dignity he carried even when life gave him no comfort. If you’ve lived through this, stood by someone who has, or cared for someone at their worst, you’ll recognize the strength it takes to keep speaking plainly—to keep discipline and focus when you’re more exhausted than you’ve ever been. May it offer company and a voice to anyone walking a similar road. —Chris Wise