october was on the horizon. weekly visits to your studio apartment with the checkered floor in the kitchen, ikea mirror leaned up against the wall. where you held all our scraps, tears, and belly laughs. measuring tape draped around your neck, your socks sliding around the hardwood in a twirl. little by little she was getting somewhere, and neither of us knew it. I never once doubted you, even when you rang, and slipped the news you cut a hole in the front panel. it was cute of you. clairo as our anthem, flashing the neighbors between changes. I love her. her mix and match fabric, her bumpy seams, her stubborn zipper. when you sewed her last stitch before I walked down the aisle, that last year and a half flashed before my eyes. the greatest gift of all, standing right in front of me, to my sister forever- i love you.