Inkling 2023 - Flipbook - Page 22
“You can still come to me. You can
always call or text me. I’ll come and
visit.”
“Promise?” I ask.
“Of course! I’m not leaving my family
forever, goofball!” Syrena answered
lightly tugging my braid. “And you can
come to visit me too, you know.”
“Okay,” I tell her. We then lay silently
again listening to the crickets and
birds quietly singing in the trees
around the lake. I am only two years
younger than Syrena and it’s crazy to
think I’ll be going off to university like
her in a few years! Grace will be all
by herself with Mom and Dad, she’s
seven years old now and will only
be nine when I’m Syrena’s age. As if
Syrena reads my mind, she tells me,
“And Allie, take care of Grace. She
needs a big sister like you. Take care of
INKLING 2023 | 22
her the way I take care of you.” I nod,
taking in her words. She has always
been a good example for Grace and
I and has always been here for me. I
want to tell Syrena I can never be as
good a sister as her, but then she sits
up and starts to cry silently.
“Oh, Syrena,” I say hugging her tight.
“It’s going to be okay.”
“It’s so scary, Alls,” Syrena cried. “A
whole different country and people I
don’t know, all my friends are going
different places and…”
“Shh,” I interrupt her. “You’re going
to be okay,” I hold her as she cries.
Older siblings are usually the ones
who comfort the younger siblings,
but right now it’s the other way
around even though I’m as sad as
her. It makes me wonder how many
times Syrena comforted me when
really, she needed it more. We stay
