Dear Sister,
The last words I said to you were “I don’t want to be your friend.” That came from a place of hurt. It didn’t mean anything. But if I had known those were going to be the last words I said to you, I would have maybe been a little nicer to you.
We haven’t gotten along much in the past couple of years. You had your issues and as much as I wanted to help you get better, I could only do so much. You had to want it for yourself. So, I kept my distance. I limited your time spent with your niece because I didn’t trust you. How could I? Most of the time you were under the influence so I did what any other mother would do, to protect everyone. Once you were triggered, you would become mean and say hurtful things whenever you were under the influence.
I’m so sorry it was like that, and I wish we could have made some sort of peace before you passed. But here we are and I’m deeply sad in this situation. Not just because of our last interaction but also because I lost my sister. We have been through a lot together growing up and there is no other bond than the ones siblings hold.
As we celebrate you, I don’t want to think about the last things we said to each other but instead, I want to remember all the good times we had together. Like how you laughed at your corny jokes, or how you would always follow me around because you told me that you looked up to me and wanted to just be under me ALL THE TIME. Or how you loved so hard. The fact that no matter what you were going through, you made sure to tell everyone that you loved them. That was truly you. You were the true definition of love. Everyone you crossed paths with knew you as love, your vibrant personality, and whenever you walked into a room, you were the center of it all.
In your honor, I promise to make sure I tell my loved ones that I love them every day. I promise to keep a relationship with our family members and not let another tragedy be the only reason we see each other. I also promise to live life to the fullest, take on the opportunities that are given to me, and value life by creating memories and just laughing, like you always loved to do. I hope that you a resting well, that you are happy to be reunited in heaven with Mom, and that you both are smiling while protecting us
here on Earth.
I love you and miss you both.
With love,
Your sister
Ms. Lewis I love this article and can relate to it. I lost my sister unexpectedly and we were sisters who were in different spaces at the time of her death. She to like your sister loved our family and was the glue that kept our family together. Maybe I will follow you and write her a letter. Thanks for this amazing article.
In your letter you said “ if you knew you
“ might” have been nicer. It is the hope that you realize that nice is easier than you think. It seems that yalls last interaction wasn’t the greatest but I hope you both find peace.