Just over seventeen years ago I held you in my arms for the first time and at only six years old myself, I decided that I wanted to be your hero. I wanted to dedicate everything that I did to you, just so that one day you would say to me, "I'm so proud to call you my big sister."
Now here we are, I've tried to be a good sister, but I know that I end up being a crappy one far more often than a good one. I don't call as often as I should, I've set a pretty bad example at times, I talk about myself more than I should, and my ignorance often leads to us arguing. But two things have remained constant in the last eighteen years; every day I wake up and think about you, wondering what I can do to make your life a little better, and the second constant is that I love you with my entire heart- always have and always will.
A few months ago you shared with the world that you were transgender, and I know that wasn't easy. The feedback you got was full of love and support, but there was also some hatred and disgust. It broke my heart to see how some people treated you, but you stood there with your head held high, so proud of who you are, not letting anyone's opinion effect you. I would cry thinking about kids at school calling you names, worrying about if some little shit was going to try to fight you, but you sat there with a brave face that essentially said, "I can't see you haters!" The maturity you display is unbelievable to me, I would write something reminding you that you are perfect and no one can tell you any different, but you already know that.
Since coming out, our conversations have grown to be wonderful discussions, you fill me in on information about what is going on in the LGBTQ community, you help educate me on things that I don't know or don't understand. You have taught me more about love and happiness than I could ever learn on my own, and I think that is the most wonderful thing in the world. You are so patient with me, and even show that patience to people who are being vicious. I can see that all you want is to educate others on who you are, so that they realize they don't need to be afraid or hateful. It is from watching you grow in all of this that you have become my hero.
I wish you could hear the pride in my voice when I talk about you, I walk around bragging about you, telling all of my friends how amazing you are. I look up to you more than you could ever imagine and I hope that one day I can be as brave, smart, loving, kind, patient, and wonderful as you are.
So the next time I see you, I will run to you and hold you in my arms just like I did a little over seventeen years ago, but this time I will hold you being thankful that I have such a wonderful person to call my hero. Then I will say to you, "I'm so proud to call you my little brother."
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