12 Years Old

2016 was a year of transformation in every sense of the word— though not always the glamorous kind. Between needing glasses (which I never wore out of sheer embarrassment) and getting braces, I officially unlocked the ultimate combo of adolescent awkwardness. It was humbling, to say the least. But amidst the chaos of middle school and orthodontic appointments, life gave me a gift I’ll never forget: my little brother was born.

After years of wishing for a sibling closer to my age (my older siblings were in a league of their own, being much older), he was the shining light I didn’t realize I needed. My little brother wasn’t just a new addition to the family; he was a new chapter, filled with love and laughter that helped me heal.