Six years stand in between us, but when we were little, those years evaporated.

Knowledge was stuffed in our brains at all of the same schools, yet, they never received the pleasure of having both of us in their presence at the same time. I rarely have your teachers anymore; so much time has passed, curriculums change, and people move.

You made me want to go to Goodwillie. You made me want to take all of the same classes you did. You make me work hard every day. I try to have better grades. I try to have better scores. But, in the end, it doesn’t matter. We both worked hard, and I learned that from you.

So many memories flood my brain of when you were around.

Playing in the basement, running around outside, reading stories to each other.

Disney Sing it. Legos. Barbies. Imagined games.

We combined our brains to make crazy games. We combined our brains to solve problems.

Christmas and Disney share our admiration. Snow comes, and we cheer. New movies come, and we are compelled to view them together.

I don’t remember a time when we were against each other in a real way. I don’t remember a conflict that needed time to cool down, or even that needed to end in a hug.

We have both fought with our brother from time to time, and we get annoyed with each other occasionally, but that never happened with us. The six long years were favorable for us.

But it is getting harder. You live two hours away. Soon you’ll travel on another adventure.

Your time at home is diminishing.

Your room is packing itself up.

But I am not afraid. We can still communicate. We still have everything we’ve done together to remember.

You are growing up. Actually. You are about to attend grad school. I am about to be a junior. I thought I was getting old. Then I recalled how old and grown-up you are. And it’s amazing.

Six long years and another sibling are in between us; yet, we are best friends.