To my sister, we hated each other and we fought all the time over things that weren't important enough to remember. I was mean to you. I knocked your tooth out and convinced you that there were monsters to be found in the dark. You blamed me for burning cookies, farts, and any other embarrassing thing you could think of. That was when we were kids. Now you're 18 and I'm 20 and you're my best friend. Not in the cheesy or cliché way, but in the real way. We send each other funny pictures and we make fun of each other and support each other. I regret being mean to you and I'm sorry for that.

I am, however, happy that we're so close now; the timing seems unfair, though. When we were kids and had no one but each other, we fought. And now that I'm away to school and on my way to having my own family and my own life and you're getting there too, we just started to need each other more than ever.

You're so smart and beautiful and I'm so proud of you. I'm glad that you're happy and I feel better leaving knowing that you can make it on your own. I'll always be the first to protect you, if you need it or not. I know you'll always do the same for me, you always have.

I know that you're not alone here; you've still got our parents and you've found yourself a good man, but that doesn't stop me from worrying about you when I'm gone. I know you don't need taking care of anymore, but I can't help but think that you'll always need me, if only a little bit.

Remember that no matter how old that you and I get, I'll always be your goofy, nerdy older sister and you'll always be my sweet, funny baby sister. Thank you for always being there for me and for always putting up with me. I'm so lucky to have had someone to care for and force my unsolicited advice upon. There's no sister in the world luckier than me.

I wanted to tell you that as we create our own lives-- in my case, one far from home-- that I'm going to miss you so much and that you'll always be my best friend, whether I'm just away at school or

writing books in South Carolina. I'm lucky to have you as my sister and I promise to not let us grow apart. I'll call you more and make you come up to see me and vice versa. I'll still miss you every day and I won't let our relationship disintegrate into short, dull conversations and awkward visits. That's just not us. I will always hope that if I have a set of daughters that they'll be lucky enough to care about each other as much as we do. You're the best sister and friend I could ask for and I love you very much. I always will.