Dear, SisterHow have you been?

Dear, Sister

How have you been?

Haven't seen you in awhile and I just wanted to check up on you

There were so many things I wanted to do before you left

But we just never had the chance to do any of them

It's been kind of crazy without you

Sure I have pictures of you and whatnot

But sometimes that's not enough

Actually most of the time

I have pictures of us being together

Us at my second birthday party

You with your long, onyx ringlets

that were separated by two ponytails on either side of your head,

Round soft cheeks as fluffy as cotton,

that made the corners of your mouth slid upwards

And I with my bobbed raven spiraled,

Sporting that wholesome smile that you wore oh so well

I always was the mischievous one out of the two

You were always so thoughtful and caring

When you left, mama would always tell me this story

She'd say

"You always wanted what your sister had, no matter what it'd be.

But she wouldn't get angry or frustrated with you.

Do you know what she'd do?"

"No Mami, what would she do?'' I replied with childlike wonder

"She would give you whatever she had because she understood how to be selfless

And would always put you first" my mother replied with a sorrowful smile

I didn't know what she meant at the time

All I knew was that the word selfless seemed to fit you like a glove

As if it had been made solely to describe you

As I got older I started questioning things more

Mom was tight-lipped though

Saying how I had to wait till I was older

All I knew was that things went downhill since you’ve left

Got into an argument with Ma

It was down pouring hard outside

I don't remember how it started

But I knew it was about you

I wanted to visit you

But she didn't

She said there’d be no point in visiting

That you would be there

Me being as strong-willed as I am

Kept pushing the issue

Until we both sat there

Her weeping

And me seething with free-flowing tears

Sprinting down my face

We were both too stubborn to see

That we have different ways of dealing with things

She denies the argument ever happened

I give her a look but I bite my tongue

Knowing that arguing with her is futile

I miss you so much

Like how a daisy cannot live without the sun

Except I am the daisy and you are the sun who shines no more

No more will I be able to bask in your glow

A glow that could chase any darkness away with just a kind gesture or smile

Mom went to get out matching clothes

She wasn't gone long

I didn't understand what was happening

At the time

You loved to pretend you were swimming

Especially in the bath

You came up for air

But…..

Something wasn't right

You hit your head on the spout

And got knocked unconscious

I saw you go still

I playfully threw the bar of soap at you

And it lightly skimmed your back

But no response

Mom came in and took me out the tub first

Since I was the youngest

She quickly realized something was wrong

And carried you out the bathtub

She was frantic calling 911

I heard helicopter sounds

I saw someone pushing on your chest

And breathing into your mouth

I saw your chest go up and down

But you didn't move