Dear you,

I was going to start this off by saying that you are everything to me, but I decided against it because I know you would think it's a weird thing for me to say. Why? Because in your eyes, it would be too sentimental, and sentimental does not always accurately describe our relationship.

Here's the thing. The relationship between sisters grows and changes through the years, yet it also stays the same. For example, I can never forget all the numerous times we would fight as kids. The yelling, the hitting, the stand offs, and all the times we were told to "quit with the fighting, girls!" It seemed like the fighting would never end, and that is how our relationship would be for the rest of our lives.

Then we changed. I started growing into my preteen years and you weren't very far behind me. We found a friendship within each other, a reliability that only sisters seem to find. My pre-teen brain seemed to think that going to mom and dad about certain issues was strictly forbidden, so I went to you. However, I was dealing with the changes that went along with becoming a teenager, which means while you were the person I went to for things, you were also the one that fell victim to my repeated attitude and surely unnecessary, yet inevitable teenage angst.

Then we changed. While I was coming out of that stage, you were entering it. Oh boy... and I say oh boy because it is my full belief that the inevitable teenage angst I had experienced, was ten times worse when it came from you. But that could just be my biased perception. We still had the newfound friendship and reliability, but it was different for me this time. Because I am the older sister, I felt a sort of responsibility to you. I felt like no matter how much attitude you gave me at the time (which was a lot), I needed to help you and be there for you when you needed me to be. That was probably the most intense change throughout our relationship. That kind of realization changes everything, because I know I am going to feel that sort of responsibility to you now, and for the rest of our lives.

Then we changed. I graduated high school and you were just starting. I moved out of the house and started the next four years of my life at school. Putting that kind of distance between sisters makes an impact. I know, because I feel that impact every day, and I know you do too (even if you don't want to admit it to me).

Our relationship is dynamic. It has changed tremendously since we were kids, and it is going to keep changing until probably the day we die. Our relationship may not be very sentimental all the time. We fight, we get annoyed with each other, we throw insults around like they are nothing sometimes, but when it comes down to it, we are sisters, and we love each other.

Love,

Your Big Sister