To My Baby Sister,
We might be significantly far apart, both in age and in distance, but I could not have asked for a better best friend. It scares me knowing that I lived nearly the first decade of my life as only half of myself. Mom and Dad are nothing short of spot-on when they tell their friends that we are twins 10 years apart, because you are my soul mate.
I can't imagine life without you, and here's why:
I know that when Mommy and Daddy told me they were having another baby, I said I wanted a puppy instead. But you have given me the world, and so much more than a puppy ever could (and I'm not just saying that because our dog is kind of annoying). I know that I lived at my best friend's house for the first week of your life because your crying annoyed me, but now I can't imagine you having to shed any tears without me being right by your side. I am always, always here for you if you ever need anything, and I hope that if you ever find yourself crying, whether it is over not getting dessert after dinner or a stupid boy that broke your heart (a couple of years into the future, of course), you would never hesitate to come to me. Whatever you need, I will be here. To back you up to Mom and Dad when the dog stains the carpet and not you, or to even kick some dumb kid's butt that teased you on the playground—that is what a big sister is for. I promise to always protect you from whatever tears I can.
I hope that you know that even though I am almost 20 years old and I may do boring adult things, you can always count me in to join you on your silly adventures. You keep me young, and with things like endless school, work, and a job, I need all of the youthfulness you can give me. Little things like ice cream runs and trips to our neighborhood pool in the summer always brighten my day, and I hope they never end. Pretending to be a pirate on the playground and making forts in the living room are some of my best memories with you. I couldn't imagine spending a Sunday afternoon without watching YouTube make-up tutorials and trying to bake some extravagant dessert that Mom and Dad eat just because they feel bad for us. No matter how old I get, please never forget to bring me along with you on all of your exciting escapades.
Watching you grow up these past 10 years and 26 days has been such a pleasure. I can't wait to watch you experience all of the exciting journeys that have a place in your future. I can't wait to watch you graduate elementary school, send you off on your first day of high school, help you get ready for prom, watch you walk the stage in May of 2023, and move you into college and watch you experience some of the best times of your life. I can't wait to have you as my maid of honor (even though you will probably get married before me) and be the most wonderful aunt to my future children. I can't wait to grow old with you and make fun of Mom and Dad for being even older. I can't wait to sit on our porch swing at my future beach house and discuss knitting and debate whether we should invest in a walker or a cane.
You are the light of my life, Baby Sister, and whether you know that or not, or even understand what I'm saying to you in this letter, just know that you will always be my sister. Know that blood is thicker than water, and I would drop anything for you whenever you need me. I hope that you need me and that I can be there through it all. Living away from you while I'm away at school has been one of the hardest things I've gone through, but those phone calls with Mom and the daily Pinterest messages get me through it.
I could not have been blessed with anything more amazing than you. Please never change who you are for anyone, even me. I will always accept you and love you. I love you more than a million puppies. "There is no better best friend than a sister, and there is no better sister than you."
