My sister and I are not best friends. Still, she knows me better than anyone.

The author and her sister went their separate ways during college.

Courtesy of the author

• I grew up playing parallel to my younger sister, Hannah.
• For years, I wished her bond with my sister matched what I imagined sisterhood to be.
• After hard life events, I learned to value my friendship with Hannah for our history and loyalty.

I recently asked my mom what my younger sister, Hannah, and I were like together when we were little girls. "You played parallel to each other," she told me.