Dear Sister,

 

The first time we met 

You were 5

He was 7

I was 1

 

There were two sets of parents

One for y’all

One for me

Full sets, 2 in each

 

The next time we met

You were 11

He was 13

I was 7

 

There was one set of parents

One for y’all

Two halves for me

Divorce destroys

 

The third time we met

You were 13

He was 15

I was 9

 

There were no sets of parents

Half of one for y’all

One half and an unmentioned second for me

Death conquers

 

And now

You are 22

He is 24

I am 18

 

There is one set of parents

Two halves make a whole

One we share

Marriage reinvents

 

This new structure 

Broke us 

For a while

One set and 3 pieces

 

Strangers living together

You yelled, I hid

Angry at the set

Ambivalent towards each other

 

He helped

As brothers do

The in-between 

Broke the silence

 

Time heals

Or at least helps

Sisters

Not perfect, but there

 

Love,

Your New-ish Sister