I could tell you a story about how much I love my sister and how we share everything and never fight, but that wouldn’t be true. We fight constantly about pointless things and sharing is more like stealing.

One Friday after school, I stood in the living room doorway and listened up the staircase. The sound of a duffle bag zipping rang the house like nails down a chalkboard. Slowly my parents and my sister made their way downstairs. My parents were lecturing her about things we have all heard a hundred times. My sister and I exchanged glances as she headed out our front door. I leaned over the window seat and looked out the window. Kaitlyn was loading her bags into her car as my parents stood warning her about all the dangers should would encounter. I could practically hear my parents scolding tones cautioning her not to drink or talk on her phone while driving.
I began to feel sad as I watched her climb into the driver’s seat. This weekend was just foreshadowing the future, but not having my big sister around seems unreal. I looked around our living room at the endless supply of pictures of me and my sister that adorn our living room walls. There are pictures of the two of us through all the years, pictures of us hugging in front of our lake house, pictures of us in matching purple easter dresses, and pictures of us camping on the beach.

I began to feel bad for all the times Kaitlyn and I had fought. Over the years we have wasted so much of our time engaging in pointless fights and forgotten that we only have so much time together. My parents have always joked that my sister and I are going to go to the same college to be close to each other, and I always laughed. I couldn’t wait to be on my own and not be referred to as Kaitlyn’s younger sister, because if you have met us you know that we couldn’t possibly be more different. Now that I have the opportunity to be my own person I am not so sure I want it. Honestly I can’t imagine life without her.

Kaitlyn’s car rounds the bend and fades out of sight. I get teary-eyed remembering the night that I spilled nail polish on the carpet while trying to find the perfect shade of green to match her cast, or the time that she watched an endless amount of Youtube videos to learn how to french braid my hair.

I headed up to my room to get ready for tennis practice. I started to cry as I looked over Kaitlyn’s empty room and noticed that she had taken the picture of me and her in Colorado. I was practically sobbing when I opened my closet to get my sneakers, but then I noticed that she had kidnapped my favorite black ballet flats. Luckily, she would be back in three days.

My sister and I fight at times, but honestly without her I wouldn’t be me. She has shaped so many aspects of my life and taught me so much. Of course we fight and I feel bad for that, but if I had the chance to redo it I wouldn’t because it only makes us closer. I can’t imagine what life is going to be like when she goes off to college but luckily I still I have another year.