Chris Cornell's wife, Vicky, has penned a letter to the late SOUNDGARDEN and AUDIOSLAVE frontman, who died last week at age 52.
Cornell was pronounced dead early Thursday morning after being found unresponsive in his Detroit hotel room on Wednesday night. SOUNDGARDEN had played a concert at the Fox Theatre earlier that evening.
Vicky's letter, which was posted on Billboard, reads as follows:
"To my sweet Christopher,
"You were the best father, husband and son-in-law. Your patience, empathy and love always showed through.
"You had always said I saved you, that you wouldn't be alive if it were not for me. My heart gleamed to see you happy, living and motivated. Excited for life. Doing everything you could to give back. We had the time of our lives in the last decade and I'm sorry, my sweet love, that I did not see what happened to you that night. I'm sorry you were alone, and I know that was not you, my sweet Christopher. Your children know that too, so you can rest in peace.
"I'm broken, but I will stand up for you and I will take care of our beautiful babies. I will think of you every minute of every day and I will fight for you. You were right when you said we are soulmates. It has been said that paths that have crossed will cross again, and I know that you will come find me, and I will be here waiting.
"I love you more than anyone has ever loved anyone in the history of loving and more than anyone ever will.
"Always and forever, your Vicky."
A full autopsy and results of toxicology tests are pending, although Cornell's wife has said he may have taken more of an anti-anxiety drug than he was prescribed. His family issued a statement Friday questioning whether his death by hanging was intentional and if "substances contributed to his demise."
A private funeral for Cornell will be held on Friday, May 26 at Hollywood Forever Cemetery in Los Angeles, California.
Ahead of Friday's service, Cornell's remains were cremated yesterday (Tuesday, May 23), as a small group of family and friends stood by, including Vicky, his brother Peter, and his friends Linda Ramone and singer J.D. King, according to TMZ.
Chris is survived by Vicky and three children, a daughter named Toni, a son named Christopher and a daughter named Lillian from his previous marriage to former SOUNDGARDEN manager Susan Silver.