To My Little Brother,
As I sit here writing this letter, I wonder about the sanctity of time. Two years ago, I was just as old as you are now, thinking of the plentiful world of uncertainty that awaited me. I would see myself at 18 years old with these ideas of growth, of moving on, of exercising childhood and seeping into adulthood. Two years feels like just a moment ago, and I’m perpetually impacted with the thought that you, now 18, are engaging in these same notions.
Enjoy your last moments of high school. I was dying to graduate, but I will tell you the absolute truth: I miss the youth, the structure, the innocence of high school and the solidarity of living at home every single day. “Adulting” is exciting, but childhood is definitely fading into the distance and closing in on you. These last moments of complete adolescence are moments you may never see again. Enjoy all of it.
In about four to five months you may be packing your belongings to move to a brand new city and an entirely new environment. However, right now you have no idea where that place will be. You will most likely be living with a stranger and you’ll meet groups of people you never knew existed before. But lo and behold, these people will become your best and most cherished friends. Freedom is upon you. It is a blessing, yet a curse! You will learn so much with this freedom. With great power comes great responsibility, my friend. Have fun, but be safe. College is an entirely new ball game, and anything can happen. Always. Be. Safe.
The extension of love I have for you does not really exist. It is an infinite, ever-changing, unconditional love. You are my little brother, and I believe we hold that “big/little sibling” dynamic pretty well by being each other’s best friends. And though you are turning into one of the most impressive, unrequited young men I have ever laid eyes on, to me you will always be someone to nurture and take care of. You have proven yourself incredibly independent of thought and talent within these last two years. You are knowledgeable, intelligent, focused, reasonable, rational, driven, talented, warm and kind. You think of the best interest of yourself and everyone else around you. You are the ultimate team player, kiddo.
I have had the greatest gift of being able to grow up right next to you and sharing every ultimate childhood memory with you just a couple steps away. I couldn’t possibly think of a better best friend and younger brother to have shared the early years of my life with. Your graduation from high school will soon mark the end of this period of our lives and our joint adolescent/childhood experiences with each other. Both you and I will not have the convenience of being so physically close to each other all the time, but that just means that we have to make the dual effort to keep up our dope relationship as brother and sister.
I’m so proud of you and everything you’ve accomplished. I have so much faith in you and what the future has in store — I sincerely see only great and wonderful things. As your sister, you can always count on me for anything. At the end of the day, it’s the two of us against the world, and to me that means that no matter what happens, under any circumstances, we can look to each other for support, guidance and love.
I hope you continue to be the intelligent, warm and special person you are. Though I not only hope, but I know you will be.
Growing up is hard — we’ve been through a lot together, but what we’ve experience has allowed us to take on the world and set it on fire. And I know that’s what you will do.
I love you, little brother.
With tender amounts of love, your sister,
Sabrina
