I found myself lost in old photos and memories, wishing my little sister back.

She protected me when she helped us find food. She sat close to keep me warm. She kept me company in a cold, dark basement. She distracted me from my growling stomach. She came home from California that first time. She moved to Colorado for summer camp with me in the mountains. I, pregnant, went to her in California to care for her after her surgery.

She came to Colorado to meet her nephew, Jared. She drove to Allenspark and Yuma, time-after-time to care for Jared, and Alex, and me.
She stood up to him. She kept care of little Alex in that park in Wray. She bought groceries or pizza or ice-cream. She came over just to spend time.

She came with oils, crystals, chi machines and the knowledge of what they could do. She played…