Sister to Sister

Years ago I was helping my older sister pack for a move. I was a typical self-centered teen, yet I surprised myself by slipping the jacket I was wearing, which she had admired many times, into one of the boxes so she'd get a surprise gift from me when she unpacked. Not long after that my sister was killed in a car accident. That simple gesture took on a lot of significance. I never got to say good-bye to her, so I'm grateful I had a chance to express my love in even that small way.
-- Shannon Holman, Brooklyn, New York