bella ray

happy eleventh birthday to my little sister today :)

my dear isabella,
where do i begin?

i love you so much,
but not enough comes out from within.

it's been my job to protect you,
and i've really tried my best,

but you tend to get yourself into scrapes
that almost always result in a mess.

i taught you to bike,
you taught me what mattered;

that not every life
is so hard to shatter.

you've seen my laugh and cry,
and i've witnessed the same for you,

glad to be the one you come to
when you're unsure what to do.

you may be small,
and you may be annoying,

and the day i leave this house
i may be rejoicing,

but when you're home late from school,
or somewhere i can't see,

i worry,
and wonder where my baby sister might be.

you have been mine since the day you were born,

through movie nights, food fights,
and sisterly scorn.

our favorite ed sheeran
constantly reminds you and me,

that the worst things in life come free to us,
but i think the best do too.

i'm unbelievably lucky to have a sister like you,

and even more blessed to share our birthday too.

i love you, bel,
that's the bottom line.

you live up to your middle name-
you're my ray of sunshine.