To my older brother,

Do you know what the words friend, idol, and hero all have in common?

They’re all the names that I am lucky enough to call you.

But most of all, I am luckiest to call you my brother.

I thank God everyday that he gave me you,

I think he knew that I could not make it through life without you.

He knew I couldn’t make it through without my bodyguard.

No matter how upset I get when you are overprotective, I always understand in the end that you are just trying to look out for me.

Who else is going to help me pick out all the good guys from the bad, and be there to threaten to beat someone up when I pick the wrong one.

Thank you for always coming to my rescue, you’re my superhero.

He knew that you would a great first friend to me.

My first friend who would experience all my firsts with me.

My first birthday, my first day of school, and my first time attempting sports(we all knew I wouldn’t be as good at lacrosse as you).

You were also my first date, and forever my favorite too.

There is no boy I would rather share a Chili’s chocolate molten cake with.

He knew you would annoy the heck out of me, and I would do the same for you.

We are more similar than we both like to admit, and I think that is why we always have competition between us.

Because of this, I feel I was pushed to be the best version of myself just to one up you, which is incredibly intimidating especially when being compared to someone like you.

He knew that you would be the one I could always go to when I needed someone to cheer me up.

You always knew the right things to say or simply just a smile and a hug solved everything for me.

Regardless of the fact that I am at a college over 12 hours away,

I feel like you are right by my side, and most days I really wish you were.

You are one of the only reasons that I have not given up on my dreams that some days feel so out of my reach. One of the only reasons I still believe in myself, because I know you do.

You help me to see myself in the best light, even when I don’t know where the switch is.

I know I never say this enough but I love you incredibly.

I am so beyond proud of everything you do and everything that you will do.

I am honored to call you my older brother, thank you for allowing me to watch you grow up into the amazing person that you have become.

I will never forget cheering you on from the sidelines for your lacrosse games,

Watching you move all your stuff into your college dorm room,

Or crying in your old room the night after you officially moved away from home.

Thank you for being the person I can take on the world with,

and for giving me the confidence when I had to do it on my own.

Love,

Your little sister