I have a sister, who is 12 years my junior.

Years ago, when Mother told me that a baby sister was on the way, I felt terrible. I thought having a younger sibling meant that I would no longer be the sun of the family. She would steal my place. It was hard for me to swallow.

After my sister Angel was born, all my fears materialised. For some time, I felt left out. In middle school, I did not think I got a fair portion of my parents’ care. At least I felt that way, with their attention on my sister most of the time. Often, I found myself cursing my sister mentally for taking the lion’s share of our parents’ love.

Things started to change as Angel was growing up. She became very much attached to me. Every day after school when I got home, Sis would be waiting for me at the gate. The moment she saw me, she would say, “Brother, I have kept some goodies for you. Come and eat.” Then Angel would fawn on me by hugging and kissing. Whatever trouble I had had back at school was melted away by my sister’s angelic smile. For some time, she was my shadow. Wherever I went, she followed me. She made me feel as if I were the world to her.

After I was done with middle school, I had to leave my hometown behind for high school in the city. In the summer holiday before high school started, Angel often sat on my lap, crooning worriedly, “What if I do not see you for a long time, brother? That will be terrible. I will be sad.”

During the National Day holidays in the first term, I was unable to make it back to my folks in Zhuxi. Instead, my parents, together with my sister Angel, took time to visit me at YYHS. The moment my sister saw me, she ran all the way over. When I was embracing her, she buried her head in my arms, shedding tears really like a baby. Angel confessed between sobs, “Brother, I missed you so much.” I used to think that a tear-jerking scene like this would be found only in movies, but I was in one.

After all, my sis does not hog all my parents’ love. On the contrary, Angel brings us so much joy. I am proud of my precious sister.