To my little sister:

I know you don’t understand it now, but one day you will. I’ll always stand beside you. I’ll always be your biggest supporter, but I’ll also always be your protector. I’ll always rise up to be like your parent when parenting is needed. I will step in and light a different path when I see you walking down the wrong one.

You deserve the world and I’ll do my best to make sure you get it. So, I will continue to run off the boys you date until we find one willing to stay. I will continue to kick him out when he doesn’t have enough respect to leave at a decent hour. I will continue to tell you to change when your outfit is too revealing. I will continue to drag you to do things you don’t want to do. I will continue to tell you no even when you don’t know why. I will continue to teach you what I’ve learned based on my mistakes and experiences. I will continue to tell you to delete posts on social media when they don’t show your potential. I will continue to push you to be the best human you can be.

I’ll do this because I won’t let you cry over punks. I won’t let you be with a guy who doesn’t respect himself, you, or your family. I won’t let you get a reputation based on someone you aren’t. I won't let you go through life without experiencing all it has to offer you. I won’t let you walk the same dark road I did. I won’t let you lower yourself to others standards.

This world is a cruel place and if I have to be the bad person every day, I’ll do it, because I love you. One day you will thank me and one day you will understand.

Life is going to take you on a journey. I know that sometimes I will have to let you have your own journey, your own experiences, and your own mistakes. No matter where you go or how long you stay, I’ll be here without judgement. I’ll be your shoulder to cry on. I will laugh with you. I will listen to you. I will always be your big sister. I love you more, more than the bad days, more than any fight we will ever have, more than distance, more than any obstacle ever thrown our way, and more than I did the day before.