to my little sister

today you left for college. I know we both cried, but I hope this will be one of the best experiences of your life. I hope you find yourself. I hope you shine, and become a light to everyone who meets you. I know you are to me. I also know that we have so many memories that I'll never forget. The small things. Like late night McDonald's runs, and making macaroni and cheese at 3am with the laugh attacks and the silliness. Things like driving up big cottonwood canyon ~ blasting Coldplay and taking turns driving so we could look at the stars. Things like picking you up in the middle of school your sophomore year and taking you to Arby's, because we were both having a hard day. Or listening to Bon Iver in the winter, and running track with you in Texas. Things like singing with you and watching you run in cross country meets ~ beating your PR every time. I could go on and on. But Nik, you stood by my side through some hard days. You are truly my best friend. You are so beautiful and strong. I cannot wait to see where this life takes you. I love you Nicole Renee, go kill it at BYU 😘

• sometimes I like to write •

I wish I could tell you that love sounds like rain hitting rooftops. A little noise that makes you smile when you first hear it, and sometimes helps you sleep at night. But love sounds like you asking me to the lunch, and singing in your car, and tickle fights that end in the most passionate kisses. Love sounds like slow dancing to Lionel Richie records in the living room, and raising our voices after hard days, and us whispering apologies to each other before we go to sleep. Love is the sound of crickets lying in the grass at the elementary school behind my mother’s house. Love is laying with you for hours listening to the wind at 1am. Love is you sitting with me while I cried silently, completely unable to speak. Love is you bringing soup when I was sick and giving that necklace after my first day of work. Sometimes love is rain hitting rooftops, and sometimes love is a goddamn hurricane. But most of all, to me, love sounds like a life together with you.