Although this may sound crazy, the greatest thing my parents ever gave me was my little sister.
You see, they didn't give me one of those crazy, fights-with-you all the time, steals your clothes kind of little sisters. Don't get me wrong, we have fought and she has stolen my clothes, but my little sister is so much more than that. I was given a best friend, partner in crime and smile on my face. She's my person and there are so many reasons I have to love her with all my heart.
She has seen me at my lows and celebrated with me at my highs. When I was crying in the next room over, she was one the one who came to make sure I was okay. She was the one who dried my tears, made me laugh and took me to get ice cream. When the boy I had been obsessing over for weeks finally texted me, she was the one who was there to be excited and formulate a response with (that definitely took hours to come up with).
She has given me countless reasons to worry. Anyone who has a little sister has had a glimpse into parenthood. You feel a need to protect her from everything that could ever hurt her because when she's hurting, so are you. She has told me about all her mistakes and I have talked her through them, just as she does for me.
At the same time, she has given me so many reasons to be proud. I have watched as she scored points on the court and trained so hard to get better. She sat right next to me studying for hours so we could celebrate our academic success. Everything she exceeds in brings a smile to my face.
She has been my partner in crime since day one. Literally, the two of us spent plenty of hours in trouble as kids. Whether you blamed me or I blamed you, we served sentences in time-out together. We may be older now but I know if I was in jail, it'd be with you because of a crime we committed together. I never had to worry about having a partner to play a game with or someone to share my Barbie's with.
She has supported me in everything I have ever done. My little sister was the one who knew I would fail, but told me to try anyway. She was the one who was standing on the sidelines at my games, even though I was sitting on the bench.
She's always ready for anything. From making cookie dough and eating it on the kitchen floor at midnight, to teasing my hair for a date that she will receive text message updates on as it's happening.
Most of all, she has been my best friend, my midnight companion and the only person I know I can count on when the day ends. She confides in me her deepest secrets and I in her. She's my little sister, my greatest blessing and I couldn't live without her.
