"More than a stunning debut. It is the announcement of a bold new literary voice"
—Stephen Chbosky, author of The Perks of Being a Wallflower

Having a sister is like having a confidant, best friend and an enemy at the same time. You live knowing each other and seeing each other grow from a girl to lady and finally, a woman. However, you two face different phases in life which means, you do not go through each phase at the same time – in a way, you grow apart.

The challenge of having a sister is the challenge of communication. One thing that’s best to practice in sisterhood is communication. You do not grow together having the same struggles but if you do talk to each other and be each other’s reminders then maybe growing apart may not be that negative. I see a lot of sisters who grew up together and they still have a bond, as well I know sisters who grew up apart having a barrier. I wonder, what if they knew the magic of communication?

Laurel has seen in you so much positivity and light that when she saw you fly through the course of the wind; she found her world shut. She totally forgot of all other things than – my sister’s dead. It must have been hard for you to know that while you were having fun with Paul, your sister was being molested by someone who you trusted to take good care of her. Laurel has her ways of dealing with the situation too. Instead of talking to you, she assumed that what is best is to keep it from you so that she’ll be part of your own world. As if, you have opened a door for her to be part of your life. It was just one night that Laurel decided to tell you the truth – and it, perhaps, broke you. The way I see it, you blamed yourself so much that you let the wind take you down to the river leaving your sister dumbfounded. You must have thought that listening to the wind will protect her, but it did not. It just protected you – from your guilt, remorse and anger.

I hope you let Laurel understood your actions first. Or maybe, I hope you did not listen to the wind that was bringing you down the river. May, it did not make things better for everyone. Your decision made it difficult for Laurel to go through her phases. She often thought that you’re someone to copy and so she wanted to act like you. Laurel is precious and smart. You, leaving her, made her fragile and out of place. Of course, it would not be a surprise for you that she dressed as you and made friends without introducing you to them. She just can’t.

Now, Laurel must have understood your love for her that she is now moving on. Her first step was, she told her friends and Sky about you. She also told your mother the story, but not in a very calm way. But they are okay now. Then, she wanted to scatter your ashes on the place she saw you follow the wind, with your parents, and they did. Together. Laurel wanted to project that it was you and it is still you who keeps the family glued together. Maybe not just in the way that you both wanted it to be. You are free now.

I’m just thinking of, what if time has bought you more time and what if you were able to channel your emotions through communication and not through having a facade? What if you were not drunk and what if you were not at the river that night? What you did May was, for me, selfish. It is not right. But it already happened. What matters now is how Laurel would lead her life without you. And I believe, Laurel now can go on carrying you in her heart and thoughts. I pray that you’re okay now up there, May. Yours is painful but a thought-provoking story to tell. I know a lot of people wished a different ending for you, but maybe it’s for a reason. Aunt Amy would agree that still, even how tough, God has plans.