I look at her and smile

My older sister; my built in best friend

How beautiful she had become, amazing in her accomplishments

She was like a tornado, pulling up the world around her, sucking up her tasks

The differences? Rather than destruction, she left perfection in her path

Anyone who knows her respects her, praises her

Those who are not as good loathe her; this she made hard with her kind, sweet smile, and her gentle, welcoming words

I love her, but the shadow she’s built casts shade over me since the beginning

As she grew, I grew, but the shadow was persistent, always expanding along with its owner

I try to peek out the edge of the shadow, crane my neck, push my head around

It’s no use

The shadow engulfs me

It is a part of me

A part of me as much as it is her

I long to rid myself of the shadow, I push it and pull it

I try to run into the light brightness of my own expectations

But it’s hopeless; disappearing for a while but forever returning

The shadow is there and it has no plans of parting, no wishes to go

I smile at her, proud of her, knowing I will miss her when she leaves

And I push the shadow down to escape it for just awhile