I had hoped to develop a lifelong relationship with my biological siblings, but it never came to fruition. The most complicated barrier is we don’t have any history. We were raised in different homes with different traditions, social norms, and family expectations. Our lives were vastly different. Sibling bonds are strengthened by sharing a lifetime ...

Cancer: The word means nothing to most people. But to the people who have it, or those close to them, the word means everything.

My sister Sarah and I are 18 months apart. I made sure that everyone knew that, especially when strangers would mistake us for twins. I didn’t grow as fast as I should have, so I was always asserting my age. I was the older sister, she was my little sister. Little, younger child. I held ...

They had nothing to say to each other. That much was obvious as they started to walk down the cobbled sidewalk. The trees were displaying vibrant colors of orange and red, the slight breeze was crisp and clean, and a school bus passed across the street. Autumn was Clarissa’s favorite time of year. Stealing a ...

Mom kept pacing the living room, back and forth, not saying a word. It would have been easier if she just had just come out and told us how disappointed she was, announced our punishments, and sent us to our rooms. She wanted us to apologize, to explain. Finally, I could not stand the silence ...

***Disclaimer: no names were used to protect the immediate and extended family that are devastatingly affected by this loss. These feelings are my own and details were withheld for the privacy of the situation and for the privacy of the family. I am a part of this whole other family that I don’t typically talk ...

What if someone is struggling with a problem, mental illness, or physical limitations, and you decide to terminate the relationship? Does this make you a “bad” person? What if this person is toxic? Do you stay because they still need help? At what point do you say enough is enough? I am a huge believer ...

If this doesn’t prove that I am a pushover when it comes to Hannah and CJ, I don’t know what will. All Hannah did was ask if I would write a special article about her for her 17th birthday. Based on this article, I’m sure you can guess who won that conversation. Hannah turned 17 ...

“Arliss Bennett, you were the one who scheduled us a client at 8:00 in the goddamn morning so get the fuck up already!”   Wearily, I rolled over and glanced at the clock. 7:45 AM. Ah, hell. I’d barely slept two hours. No wonder Skena was about to blow a gasket. She must have been ...

There’s something special about seeing a movie in theaters for the first time. The lights go out. The opening music starts to play. For two hours, you can forget your problems and sink into a world created to entertain you. I love watching movies. It’s one of my favorite ways to connect with people. The ...