I Will Never Forget

Rosalyn was undoubtedly one of the greatest people on earth.1

She was trustworthy, amiable, and brave. Everyone loved her more than they loved me, but I didn’t care. She was such a precious girl, a girl I also loved. She was my sister. 2

Rosalyn and I were inseparable. We could never stand being so much as an inch away from each other. I loved her and she loved me. She was my best friend and sister.3

Rosalyn was always happy. She was always smiling, and I once pointed out that she must sleep with a grin on her face. When she heard me say this, she laughed and called me silly. I laughed, too.4

Rosalyn was bubbly, too. She hopped when she walked and danced a lot. Sometimes she would try to get me to dance with her, and I would usually protest. But she almost always got me to dance with her, and I did felt a bit strange doing crazy moves like her. We danced to jazz, blues, tango, and even classical songs. 5

Rosalyn loved apples. She hated beans and spinach. I remember that she would eat most of apples in one day and dumped all of her beans on my plate. She also hated spiders and would scream at me to get the itsy-bitsy little bug and put it in the backyard. I would laugh and call her a sissy and she would smile and poke me, saying, “I am no sissy! I just think spiders are creepy!”6

Rosalyn and I shared our birthday parties on the same day. She invited practically everyone, while I only invited a cousin or two. Rosalyn would hug all of the guests at the end of the party, and then she would embrace me lovingly. I still can’t find anything as good as her embrace.7

I also remember that she would take out Shel Silverstein’s ‘The Giving Tree’ and read it aloud, and I would sit near her and listen to her voice. Sometimes we would read the Cat in the Hat together and laugh at the funny parts and take turns reading pages. Her favorite book was ‘If You Give a Mouse a Cookie’ and every night read it quietly to herself, smiling faintly when she did. And the time when we read Charlotte’s Web and cried together at the end, holding each other close and crying for Charlotte. We also loved ‘The Indian in the Cupboard’ very much.8

Rosalyn and I spent some of our time at a park nearby, where we would run and play with a blue ball that I now treasure in my room. She would throw the ball at me and I would try and catch it, which was hard because she was a very good thrower. I kept telling her, “Give me your worst shot, so that I can at least catch it!” I tried to throw as hard as her, but no matter how much I tried she almost always caught the ball. Sometimes a dog would come and get the ball and we’d laugh and run after it.9

Rosalyn was the best sister I could ever have.10

I remember, as though it was this very morning, it was raining. The world was completely darkened. Rosalyn and I were laughing and reading The Cat in the Hat Comes Back when our father came in and told us we were going for a ride. He said he was going to the supermarket and asked if me and Rosalyn wanted to come. I hated the supermarket, but Rosalyn loved shopping there. So I agreed to go. Mother decided to come too, saying that there was nothing much to do around the house other than sit and watch the news.11

The trip to the supermarket was slightly long and stressful, and even me and Rosalyn didn’t have much to do than talk. Father and Mother were talking about a certain family member, Aunt Lynette. They said she was getting married and her fiancée had came all the way from Hungary. I looked at Rosalyn, who was engrossed in the conversation as well. Finally, she asked, “Mom, I dropped my bracelet in the back of the car. Can I go get it?”12

“Rosalyn, can’t you see I’m talking?” Mother snapped before continuing her conversation with Dad.13

Rosalyn unbuckled her seatbelt and turned around and reached for the bracelet in the back seat, while I watched her. I did not say anything.14

Dad turned around and tried to get her to sit down again, but Rosalyn would not listen. She was still smiling, and still trying to get her bracelet.15

That’s when I heard Mom’s shrill scream, a crash, and then the world went black.16

I awoke in a hospital, with my parents by my side. I was extremely drowsy and in pain, not to mention confused.17

“Mom? Dad? What happened?” 18

I became fully awake and observed my surroundings. 19

“Oh, thank god. Lana, you’re awake! Sweetie, are you ok?” Mother asked, her eyes filled with relief.20

“Where’s Rosalyn?” I asked.21

They did not answer.22

“Mom. Where’s Rosalyn?” My eyes welled up with tears and I began to tremble.23

“Honey”, Mother said softly, “Rosalyn…is gone. She…she didn’t survive the crash.”24

“No. No, she isn’t! She can’t be.” I began to sob and shook my head.25

“No! She isn’t dead! You’re lying!” I shook my head, “I love her! She can’t die! Not now, please, no!”26

I buried my face in the hospital pillow, staining it with my tears.27

“Rosalyn!” I wailed helplessly.28

I cried for what seemed to be forever.29

“Rosalyn!” I wailed again.30

If you ever walk into my room, you will see treasures everywhere. I keep everything she ever owned in my room, so that I will not forget. I will never forget her. She was the world to me. We were inseparable.31

Rosalyn was my sister. And I loved her. 32

And I always will.33