This is...

This is three young girls on the back porch of a house on grand street.

Behind them the yellow siding and blue trim show expectantly

The girls are close together, arms dangled around each other

Their smiles bright and optimistic

Eyes squinting from the sunlight

Two match in attire,

The other is just as important.

This is Cassidy

Her hair dark brown and as short as mine

She is two years older than me,

But just as young at heart

She is my best friend in this photo

But not so much anymore

It’s been years since we’ve spoken to or seen each other

She will always be my sister

This is Courtney

Cassidy’s twin sister

Not too close to me back then, but close to me now.

She has been through a lot, just as much as me

Her life filled with indirection and loneliness

But I try to guide her,

Keeping her from running away once again.

She got married not too long ago

To someone she shouldn’t have,

All I can do is support her

And hope that she stays safe

This is existing, before everything happened

This is a family

Before the family was created

Before our parents got married and our lives filled with complications and experience

These are my twin step sisters, welcoming me into their home,

Staring at my mother who holds the camera

This is us before we grew apart years afterward

Still sisters, but miles apart on the map