Ten amazing years ago, my mom was contacted with terrific news. Her nephew, my cousin, had been born. He was born on the side of the road, in the backseat of my aunt's car, and with my uncle delivering him. They had not made it to the hospital. After, my uncle had delivered the baby. They rode to the hospital. At the hospital, they were given terrible news. My cousin, Evan, had been born with a hole in his heart.

My aunt and uncle got on a train and went to the best doctor they could find to help save their child. Evan was put in immediate surgery. The surgery went fine, and Evan was healthy. However, there were consequences of the hole. He will now forever hold a scar down the middle of his chest and will forever have down syndrome. Also, my dear aunt and uncle had found out he had down syndrome.

As a child, I never understood why my baby cousin could not understand what I was saying. I could not understand why he did not just use his words like the rest of us. My mom taught me that Evan was special, and he learns slower than the rest of us. When my mother told me this, I knew that I would always protect him.

At this time, Evan lived in Baton Rouge, and I in New Orleans. I would beg my mom to let me go home with my aunt and uncle every time they came to visit. One day, she let me go home. I sat through that hour car ride with Evan screaming crying next to me. I was not annoyed with his crying; however, I was just happy to be alongside him.

A couple of years ago, Evan and his family decided to move to New Orleans. Lucky for me, they moved in just three streets down from my house. I would visit them as much as my mom would let me. Soon, Evan’s older brother, Ryan, was old enough to attend the elementary school I attended. So, every day when Evan and my aunt would drop Ryan off in the gym, Evan would run over to me and kiss me good morning. It was the thing that made me want to get up in the morning.

My friends adored and still adore Evan as much as I do. In middle school, I would take my friends and I over to his house just to say hello. My aunt would invite us in, and we would just sit on the couch with Evan and watch television. I would usually ignore my friends and pay all my attention to Evan. I knew that might have annoyed my friends, but I did not seem to care.

Years later and I have grown closer to Evan than ever before. Sometimes, he calls me mama. I visit him as much as possible. Whenever, we have family gatherings he always seems to task my aunt if I will be there. His older brother even seems to adore how much I love Evan. Evan is my rock. I love him more than anyone could ever imagine.

Soon, I am going to have to make a decision on where I go to college. Evan is a big part of my decision. If he needs me, I need to be there for him. If he wants to see me, I have to visit. When he has his birthday, I need to celebrate with him. I have to be as close to him as possible. I have to be able to come home when he needs me. So, I have to go to college close to home. Some people have told me I should not base where I go to college off of one person. However, those people are wrong. That “one person” is one of the most important people in my life, and I his.

Evan is the light of my world. I will love him forever. Sometimes it might be difficult to watch Mamma Mia with him for the tenth time, but it is worth it to just spend that time with him. From sill magic tricks all the way to singing our lungs out to “Take a Chance on Me,” I will love Evan always, and he will be one of the most important people in my life.