How to Save a Life

Dear Sister, soon it will be your birthday,1

Your first birthday sober in many a year,2

Since you went to rehab,3

Since you went to prison,4

Since you acquiesced into drug abuse5

So many years ago. 6

Sister, soon I hope to see you,7

I miss you quite a lot!8

So many hours away you are,9

But I can get there,10

It's not too far,11

But not as near as the painful memories12

Of what happened to us.13

Sister, perhaps you never saw14

The images that I see, flashing,15

Images of that terrifying day, as I watched you16

In a police car you drove far away,17

Away to the prison,18

Away to my depression,19

Away to our forgiveness and pessimistic views20

Of your future.21

But I forgive you, Sister,22

For stealing all my things,23

For pawning them away to get one more hit24

Of heroine in your veins25

To ruin your sister's faith26

But to teach her a strong lesson,27

A lesson of how not to give into peer pressure,28

How to save a life.29

At first, my Sister, I was angry;30

I could not let it go.31

I hated you, Sister, but not now that I understand32

Why you lied to me33

Why you pretended34

To be my best friend, instead you stole from me35

And hurt my ego.36

I had no one to talk to,37

Not at home38

Where I was seemingly alone.39

So I wrote you letters,40

So I told you everything,41

In the end I got better at forgiving, but I am so sorry42

For worrying you.43

You taught me so much44

While you were away45

In that frigid prison where you didn't belong.46

How to love,47

How to forgive,48

How to remind myself that I can be strong, that I49

Can save myself.50

Now when I call you51

My best friend52

I can say it without cringing from false accusations.53

This time it is true,54

This time I mean it,55

And this time it is special because I know you mean it too.56

My sister, my best friend, you know that I love you.