After 2 years of not seeing my older sister we were reunited! It was so strange because I was quite shorter when we separated and the same height when we returned. ( she is on her tip toes because she doesn’t want me to be the same height!)

I went to High School for 2 years in Orofino, ID while she stayed back in NY. During that time I missed her greatly. I became the only girl in the family. I was also the new girl at school. Life was strange with out. I had intense sadness on the 2500 mile drive out West. I felt abandoned.

While in NY, she was in a less than desirable romantic relationship. She became very ill with Crohn’s disease and was hospitalized. My parents decided to move us back to NY to be closer to her.

In this photo we are standing outside of my grandparents house. I like going there to visit. My Nana was a great host. She would feed us and then catch us up on all the family gossip; even if we didn’t want to hear it. Those trees, how I loved them. They went on for miles! There was great path behind their house for taking the 4 Wheeler. It lined a small stream where Birch trees outlined it. I loved those white trees.

The silence and solitude I found in those woods was creepily healing to my heart. I felt safe and unsafe all at the same time.

I was an incredible teenager, but didn’t know it at the time. I was responsible. Helpful. Earned amazing grades in school and worked after school making all my own money. During this moment the photo was taken, it would be 2 years later I would be diagnosed with Crohn’s disease.

Family issues had gotten more intense and couldn’t be hidden anymore. My sense of Justice grew stronger by the day. I was done watching the abuse and began to speak up about it making my home life unsafe. I made a terrible choice to date a boy that wasn’t a good fit for me. Emotional turmoil is hell on the human body.

With that being said, It’s a beautiful time to reflect on my life…how far I’ve come. Looking at the girl I can see all she wanted was to be loved and celebrated. She would have benefited from a few heart to heart conversations from a caring adult. But at this time, she had herself. And she did okay. She made it. And how she shares her story.