You were born eleven months

And three weeks (on the dot) after me.

When you saw me walk

You thought –

“If you can, then I can too.”

When I was eight

And you were seven

You got your new bike

A week before me

I said –

“If you get one, then I want one too.”

And when my heart broke

After she gave up on me

You said –

“If you hurt, then I hurt too.”

When Grandma was dying

And it was hard to breathe

I said –

“If you need to sob, then I need to too.”

When I saw you lying there, still

Hands like leather

Forehead cold

I thought –

“If you can, then (someday) I can too.”