To my little sister,
I still call you that, because that is what you are, my baby sister. Despite the fact that you tower over me, and could pass for a 21 year old (according to your senior year yearbook), despite still being in high school, you will always be my baby sister.
We were always told this would happen. Every argument, spat, or brawl we engaged in during our childhood was echoed with “you two will miss each other during college.” We laughed, because how could we miss each other, when all we ever did was argue?
But that isn’t all we ever did. We played, and laughed, and made jokes that nobody else could understand. We went weeks without putting away our littlest pet shop, or bratz dolls, and then stood by each other when mom went on a rant about how messy our room was. I looked out for you in the academic sense, and you gave me some sense of fashion. Justin Bieber, One Direction, we withstood each other's phases. And in doing so, we became sisters, in every sense of the word.
You are the girl that knows me better than anyone else. The girl who, despite being a pain in my ass, is my most favorite person in the world. From name-calling to nicknames, we grew up together. I watched you change from “little miss ‘me too,’” into a beautiful young woman.
We poke fun at each other, even say hurtful things. But nothing changes the fact that you are, and forever will be, my best friend. The girl that tells me when I look cute, or if the outfit I’m wearing is just a big “no.” The girl who calls me while she is in the shower, to ask me to bring her ice cubes. The girl who I miss more than anything.
But what I also miss the most, is not being there for those moments where you do or say something so ridiculous, that it becomes ammunition for making fun of you for years. Like when you ran over the Christmas tree, or asked me “if I only have wi-fi in Italy, how is it going to work in Rome?” Or when you spent 10 minutes vlogging at Disneyland, because you needed to show your “fans” what you were up to. Or the time at Islands (our restaurant) where you kept ordering extra jalapenos, and the waiter found it hysterical. It is these moments, the insane, random memories, that make me miss you more.
Even though I am not with you, I think about you every day. Some days are easier than others, when all I need to see is your face on my snapchat screen, but then there are the nights when all I want is a hug from you, or to stay up all night, watching Harry Potter (which I know wouldn’t be your first choice, but you love me, so you allow it).
But I’m not there with you, which makes it harder, even though I am only a phone call away. And I know that you are an amazing person, and it hurts me to not see it. You have truly grown-up, both in height, and from your mistakes. And next year, you will join me in the collegiate world. But we will still be apart. But both you and I are learning, that is ok. We will be ok, because no matter what, we will always be there for each other.
So promise me that you will continue to grow as a person, but also realize that it is alright to not be perfect. There is no such thing. Do everything that mom and dad taught us, but most importantly, stay true to yourself. You will always be my Hannah Banana.
I love you.
