Laura

My hero I would have to chose over everyone, is my little sister because she knows me better than anyone - well, except my mom, but she knows me very well and she's been there for me every time, and I help her to when she needs it. My sister and I have many differences. She is my half sister, and we've built a bond so strong that when we get in fights and make each other cry we get over it and just become best friends all over again. My sister is 12 years old, just started high school, and is a very athletic girl.

Our bond started when she was born. She was this adorable baby and my first sister so I wanted to make the best out of it. When she was little and growing up she would do these cute little dances with me and try to do everything I did, and it felt like wow she really admires me and looks up to me. When I started to grow up though, and she did too, we kinda grew apart because I was a teenager now and that's when I got into trouble all the time, and she would hate that and get so mad at me. When I was 13 though something very bad happened to me and I didn't know who to turn to to talk about what had happened. Then one day I was sitting at home with my sister, and I just got the courage to talk to her and tell her what had happened to me. When I told her that I was raped she looked at me dumb founded, and I thought she didn't care or was really shocked and didn't know what to say. Right then she looked up and she was crying and she hugged me and told me that everything was going to be ok and that I was going to get over what had happened to me. Right then she became my hero, because I never heard that from anyone else - not my friends, my dad, and no one else but my sister.

After that I have always respected my sister and she respects me. I mean yeah we have our fights and scream at each other, but no matter what we are always there for each other. I think that everyone has a hero like my sister and can create a bond like us if they tried and if they got to actually love and respect each other. I know it probably sounds kinda silly saying that my sister is my hero, but you would all be surprised what has happened between the two of us I would probably make you cry.

After a couple years went by, I was now 17 and my sister was 11, I decided that I wanted to quit school and just give up on life itself. My sister was mad, but she understood what I was going through because she knew about everything. We made a deal that I would go and get my GED and then go to college. Well that's not how it happened. I gave up on everything and moved away and I told my sister I didn't care about her anymore and everything. After months went by I felt horrible, especially when I got a phone call from my sister crying on the phone begging me to come home and that something was happening with her and her friends and the family. So I went back home. Yeah, my sister hated me when I came back but when I walked in the front door I had my hero in my arms crying and holding on to me so tight that it felt like my ribs were crushed and broken. That day I made a plot that I was never going to leave again, and that I don't want my sister to see what I'm doing is ok because it's not. So I came up with my own plan and I am now going back to school, and I am hoping to graduate and go onto college in California, and I'm living in my home town with my sister so that I can be here for her with her sports, homework, and for advice.

I have been through everything and anything you can imagine, but if you have a sibling and they're younger than you, change your ways and make them see that you can do anything when you put your mind and heart into it, and the next thing you know you may have your next and new hero sitting next to you.