Dear Lise,
Remember when you used to hold me upside-down by my ankles until I turned purple? That was quite painful.
Remember when you smeared gum in my hair and Mom had to get it out with peanut butter?
Remember when we used to catch frogs together in the pond near our house? Remember when our hamster died and we held each other, crying?
Remember when you first entered middle school and refused to talk to me at school?
Remember when you were a sophomore and Derek asked you to prom? You were so flattered that a senior like him would ask a lowly sophomore like you to prom.
Remember when he slapped you in front of me? He didn't know I was watching, of course.
Remember when he made you lose all your friends? Do you remember?
Do you remember when he squeezed your arm so hard he left a bruise?
He scared me so much, Lise. Why did you stay with him, Lise? Did you think you could change his ways? Why did you have to be so stubborn, Lise?
Do your remember that fatal night? The night when you had a stupid argument and he drove the car into an oncoming lane of traffic?
Do you remember that night in the hospital, when you held my hand and told me that you were sorry?
Why were you sorry, Lise? I'm the one who's sorry. I'm sorry I never told Mom about Derek, even though you begged me not to.
Remember how you always wanted to be an actress? I remember everything about you. Your laugh, your smile, the exact shade of your hair.
You were my older sister. You should have set an example for me.
But it's my fault, really. My fault you're dead. My fault I didn't tell anyone. I'd rather have simply lost your trust instead of your presence.
I'm sorry you're dead, Lise. I'm sorry your dreams will never come true. I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry.
I wish I could have helped you before it was too late.
I'm sorry, Lise.
-Kiana
