Carmen,

I never met you, but you know that already. I never had the opportunity to experience you, but then again neither did my parents. We have one picture of you, and only one. Don’t worry it's in a safe place, and every once in a while mom and dad buy you some flowers that I’m sure you would love. They haven’t forgotten about you if that’s what you think, how could they when you were their first born. You were the light of their lives, the beginning of our family, and the pride and joy of two young adults who weren’t supposed to end up together. It was you, you were the key, the sign that they had been waiting for, the antidote that was meant to mend the hatred among the hearts of those who opposed our parent's relationship. You did just that, in your five short months you did more for mom and dad than anyone ever could, and for that, I will be forever grateful.

You were special. Mom always tells us about how you were the brightest baby she had ever met, and I promise you she’s not just saying that because she’s your mom, sisters honor. She has such a deep admiration for you, and so do I. The doctors noticed something about you too. You had a third copy of chromosome 21, but mom and dad didn’t care. Why would they? Down syndrome is nothing to be scared of, and mom and dad knew that. So what if you were a little different? That didn’t change the fact that you were there's, no one else’s. Who cares if you would receive stares from ignorant bystanders, or if you would have to get a little extra help in school. That didn’t matter to mom and dad, I promise you.

Mom and dad were ready to take you on, ready to raise a beautiful baby girl, but then you left. It was just a stupid cold, something so minuscule that it could have easily been overlooked. Mom and dad did everything they could for you, but doctor visit after doctor visit only made you grow tired. You were so small, so full of life and love it was overwhelming, and when you left a part of mom left too. I’m not mad at you for leaving, I hope you know that. I know that you didn’t expect to fight so hard at such a delicate age, and I know that you did everything you could too. I think about you so much, what it would be like to have two older sisters, what it would be like to have someone so special in my everyday life. I wish I would have had the opportunity to meet you, but I know that one day I will, and that’s enough for me for now, I hope it is for you too. I love you.

With lots of love,

Monserrath