Hi Big Brother,
The last few days I've gone and looked back at our childhood and remembered how much we hated each other. Now, here we are as grown adults and you're my best friend. I remember the night we decided to put our differences aside, it was my freshman year of high school. You texted me from the basement and asked me to come downstairs, when I got down there you looked at me and said "we're going to sit down and tell each other every bad thing we've ever done." We talked for hours. Since that night we've only gotten closer and I've gone to you for absolutely everything, and the same for you.
It's weird, not having you around anymore. While you were in college I got used to you being away, but now you can't come home for the weekend just to say "hey" or to clean all of your clothes. Now you're actually gone and I don't know when I'll get to see you next, it could be next month, or it could be next year. There's absolutely no knowing when it comes to the military and its so unfair, but I understand. Its weird going home and going into your room to see it be a storage space rather than your bedroom. No one in there yelling at the xbox or playing games on his laptop, no one throwing a folded pair of socks at me when I walk into the room just..nothing.
I would just like you to know that I'm doing as good as I can without my best friend here. As much as it hurts to have you so far away, I keep a smile on my face and remember to think good thoughts because you're doing what you've always wanted to do. You took a pledge to stand up and protect our country, and I couldn't be any more proud of you. When we FaceTimed a couple of weeks ago you seemed genuinely happy, you've made a group of friends (not sure how, but you did) and you've settled into your new home 1,700 miles away.
I would also like you to know that your niece is doing great. She's growing so fast, I wish you could see her; she's changed so much in just three and a half months. I will never ever ever forget the night I had her. You drove over three hours from Vermont to get to the hospital so you could meet her. After HOURS of waiting for her to come, you get there minutes before she was born. It's almost like she knew her uncle was flying down the highway to be able to meet her on her birthday. The bond you two had was exactly what I had hoped for.
I remember you being the very last person I told that I was pregnant because I was so scared. I remember crying when I told you, you hugged me and said it was going to be okay. That was all I needed to hear, I was so nervous of what you'd think or if you'd be disappointed in me, or if you were going to kill my boyfriend. You were none of that.
You are one of the most important people in my life and I'll be counting down the days and saving all of my pennies so that one day I can fly down and see you.
I love you.
-Your Baby Sister
