Our Triplet Sister Passed Away When We Were Only Eleven—On Our 21st Birthday, Mom Handed Us a Box that She Had Left Behind

have been.

We blew out candles for two.

But silently, we counted three.

At twelve, I wished for Nora to come back.

At thirteen, I wished Mom would stop crying in the laundry room.

At fourteen, I wished Leila would talk to me the way she used to.

Losing Nora changed us.

People always said grief was supposed to bring families closer.

It didn’t.

It pushed us apart.continue reading …