Dear JoAnna, For fifteen

Dear JoAnna,

For fifteen years I grew up normal.

I had my mom, my dad, and my brother

But I didn't have you.

My dad would stay out drinking,

Mom would stay home crying,

My brother and I stayed up worrying.

I grew up knowing my family would split.

I loved both my parents,

But my parents stopped loving each other.

My dad became homeless,

My mom became scared to love,

Until she met the man she needed.

Your family was broken.

Mine was broken too.

Soon everything became to much,

Too much to handle,

Too much to carry on my shoulders.

It became hard to trust people,

hard to call someone family,

hard to use the word "forever".

Then I met you.

You showed me how to be me.

Not to change myself

To always have faith

Not to give into my fears.

You make me laugh,

You make me strong,

You make me glad

To call you my sister.

Love you, 

Kristina