It had been a long time since I had spoken with her. We had always been connected in a way that only sisters and twins share. What is truly strange is the fact that I’m an only child and she was my god-sister. My parents were her god-parents committed to stand by her and nurture her in Christian love. It was a responsibility that my parents took with great care and diligence. Her and her sister were my sisters. Our bond was thicker than blood.

As she grew up, I watched her friends come and go. I was there when she went through phases that children and teens go through. Who can forget the biting phase. Yes, my baby sis was a biter. Although she never sunk her fangs into me, she bit her mother, sister, and cousins. This hazel-eyed beauty was a menace. But through her bad behavior there was a genius.

As an adolescent, I hovered over her like any big sister would. I inspected and interrogated each boy who approached her door. No one was ever good enough for her. She was a cheerleader, an honor student, and her presence alone brightened any day. Through heartaches and failures she was there for me and I for her.

I was there when she thought she had met The One. Through what seemed like would be a tragedy, God opened her womb and blessed her with a beautiful daughter. Even in the ashes of her heartache, we comforted each other. With God’s help she picked up the pieces of her life. As a single mom, she raised her daughter with love, strength, and hope. Her hope was to feel the love she gave so freely. And she did love again.

Our mothers warned us of Fool’s Gold. Our mothers also warned us about fake jewels. Not just in the jewels you wore, but those that you invest yourself into. He was a fake. His type I had seen before.  The role he played was cunning and deceptive.  For fear of losing her, I was soft in my observation. Yet, she knew my dislike of him. And so they set off on their Happily ever after. But what glitters ain’t gold.

In my heart, I knew my sister was dying. Her hazel eyes were dark and her smile was dimmed. She hid her pain and did not allow the scars to show. Our mothers also told us that what is done in the dark will surely come to light. In the midst of the darkness, she saw the light.

While we are many miles a part, I hurt because of her hurt. Although we are many miles a part, I pray for her safety and mostly I pray that she will never have to live through that again. In her committment of ‘til death do us part, did that mean that it would be at his hands? No. God was watching over her and protected her in the midst of her storm.

Through the storm that she endured and the suffering she faced, she has emerged into a woman who is stronger and wiser. While the damage and hurt is done, she will heal. As her big sister, I can only put her hurt in the hands of God who is the healer of all who hurt and are in  pain. My prayer for her is that  as her dreams and hopes may seem shattered, it is God who mends and restores what is broken.

Blessings!