Someone once said that "It's strange, the memories you keep", and I agree. I can remember brushing our teeth together. I remember when my brother uses to take me to the park and let me play as he ran the track. I can remember watching movies with him.Before I turned 5 my brother left me to fight for our country. He would come back and visit. I remember him staying for a month or two and then he would leave again. I would cry when he left. That's when it was hard on me when he would come back and then leave soon after. I felt like my heart was being teased and my head was still trying to figure out if I got to have him in my life or not. But one day he came back, but he wasn't alone.

Now I had been around my brother's girlfriends before but they had never seemed to stay and for whatever reason, this one stayed. So now when I and my brother would spend time together when he would come back to visit, she would be with us. Everything that we did was now a party of three. I used to hate her. He wanted to be with her all the time and she got to go live with him.

She was creating new memories with him and I was listening about them from the other side of the map. I would lay in my floor listening to his CD that he sent me and I would cry. I remember praying that if I got nothing in this world, I would just get him to come back home. Finally, they decided to get married and I remember crying at their wedding. I cried half because I knew my brother wasn't coming back home to stay and half because Rian was too pretty for him. I used to hate her. I didn't want her around and sure as heck didn't want her stealing my brother.

Looking back, I realize just how narrow a child's brain can think. Why would I hate her? She was gorgeous, smart, and loved my brother to no end. It was a long road before I could finally accept this but when I did, I saw the most beautiful relationship. That relationship made my brother a better man. Rian gave me what my brother never could. I now have the best nephews and the sweetest little niece.

So, to the girl who stole my brother, I'm sorry. I am so sorry if I ever made you feel bad for loving Chris. I am sorry if I ever said anything around or about you that made you second guess if you were welcomed into the family (even by a little girl). I am sorry you had to drive long hours so that this fit throwing little girl could see her brother. I'm sorry you had to deal with whatever I seemed to dish out at you. I know the words never go away.

And thank you. Thank you for taking care of my brother. Thank you for dealing with my childish tantrums. Thank you for giving me the most talented and beautiful niece and nephews a girl could ask for. Thank you for reminding Bubba to call on birthdays and holidays. Thank you for being strong while he was out at war or overseas. Thank you for being a friend to a little girl who was for a long time, not a friend to you. Thank you for being patient with me. Thank you for reminding me what true love is and why we fight for it. I love you.

I hope that you know that I think you are one of the best things that have happened to this family and I definitely think my brother married up. I am so happy that you decided to steal my brother.

Sincerely,

A jealous little girl.