When I was younger, my sister and I never got along. The three-year age gap seemed a lot larger than it does now. She was constantly teasing me, locking me in the basement, and beating me up just because she could. All I wanted was to be included in her big girl plans, but she clearly wanted nothing to do with me. She made me cry a lot, but now she's the one I go to when I'm crying.
I remember exactly when it happened. About to start my sophomore year of high school, I was dropping my sister off for her first year of college. I was so excited for her to be out of the house, for her to stop controlling everything and harassing me. When my parents and I were about to leave her that day, she broke down crying. I realized my big sister wasn't as tough and strong as I initially thought, and that she had her own issues that I never knew about. Throughout her first semester at school, we talked every day. She showed me a side of her that I didn't know existed. She was vulnerable, and she was coming to me to help her; I felt like the older sister, but I didn't like it. That didn't matter though, because I knew she needed support from me more than anyone else. Over that time, we realized how much we underestimated our appreciation and love for each other.
My sister came home and commuted her second semester and despite butting heads and annoying each other, nonetheless, we became best friends. We hung out often and we enjoyed each other's company. I think it was because she realized I wasn't the annoying little sister wanting to fit in anymore. Our friendship grew even stronger when I went off to school. I needed her the same way she needed me going off to college, and I couldn't have been more grateful for her being there. She saved me in a time when I didn't think I could be saved.
Fast forward to my junior year of college, and I can't believe there was ever a time we weren't best friends. We understand each other, and we even share some of the same friends. I begin to cherish the inside jokes we share, the stupid nicknames and voices we use, and the similarities we have to our parents. I wouldn't want to share that with anyone else. She still harasses me, forcing me to get in her car without telling me where we're going. At first, it got on my nerves, but now it's one of my favorite things we do together. I love annoying our parents together, especially Dad, because it's the funniest thing ever. Even when you don't want to go out with me and it makes me wonder how we're even related, I know we don't need to party together to have fun.
To my big sis, no matter how much we get on each other's nerves (at this exact moment, you are really getting on mine), you can't get rid of me. I'm here to stay, throughout the friends we've lost and pushed away, that's not an option for us. Thanks for being my best friend, I love you.
