As the sun was just beginning to set, a young woman walked up the hill toward the cemetery at the top. She sat between two headstones. The one on the left was still fresh, the mound of dirt only beginning to sprout grass after two weeks. The one on the right was familiar, visited many times. She had only been a year old when that grave was filled. Benji, born prematurely, hadn't lived to the end of the week. At the time, she didn't understand why everyone was so sad. She grew and understood with age what had happened. It hurt. She lost her companion and friend before she got a chance to know him.

The young woman was brought out of her thoughts by a light hand on her shoulder. "Sorry, Caroline, I didn't hear you."

"It's okay. Neither of us was expecting it. It's been hard for both of us." Silence pervaded for a moment before a heart-rending sob broke through the air. Caroline sat down. "It's okay, Addy. They're together. Mom wouldn't have been happy living without Dad."

"I know, but it still hurts to lose them at the same time." A little over two weeks ago, Robin and Maria had taken a walk in the woods. When neither one was back by dark, Caroline, only eighteen, set out to look for them. They were sitting on the ground, leaning against a tree, cold hands twined together. Arrangements were made to bring both bodies back to the house. They had been inseparable in life and would be so I death. It was decided that they would be buried together.

Addy leaned back against their headstone, tears flowing freely. "I'm so sorry... for everything. Mom, I'm sorry for all the times I yelled at you and disrespected you, for all the times we fought. Dad, I'm sorry for calling you overbearing and not trusting you. All either of you wanted was to keep me from getting hurt. I'm sorry, so sorry... I don't know how or why, but you both still loved me through all my tantrums and outbursts. You were the best parents I could've ever hoped for."

Addy turned to look at her sister. "I'm sort to you, too, Caroline. I know that being sisters we argued a lot, but I used to really resent you before you could ever deserve it. About the time you were adopted, I found out what happened with Benji. I finally understood it, and I felt alone. Mom and Dad gave most of their time to you because you were their new child. I felt unwanted. But as you grew, you were always there for me. I remember once when I was seventeen and Dad finally let me go courting. At the end of the night, the boy said he didn't like me and left. You were supposed to be asleep, but you came into my room when you heard me, crying like a fool. You thought it was about the boy, never once thinking I was crying about myself. You say next to me, grabbed my hand in yours, and said with the innocence of a seven-year-old, 'Don't cry. He was not even cute.' I began to laugh through my tears. You've kept me grounded in my darkest times. These past two weeks, you have been what's keeping me from going absolutely mad. Thank you for never leaving me."

The setting sun silhouetted the two figures sitting between the two graves, and it illuminated in their memories a moment that showed their love for each other. It illuminated a memory that would bring strength when hurt came and would remind each girl that she had a sister who cared when no one else did.

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With that, my story is done. Not to worry though, I'm going to start posting one shots from a notebook I've written them in. That will be up and soon I will put up a short story that was inspired by a school project to make your own country (it will make more sense when you read it). This chapter is dedicated to all my readers. Whether you read this after it was completed or if you've been with me from the beginning until the end, this is for you. I love you all!