I am the last born in my family, and growing up with my siblings and parents shaped who I am today. We all lived under the same roof. We laughed together, cried together, played together, and of course, we fought amongst ourselves. We would quarrel almost every day. Sometimes, we quarreled because one sibling refused to do house chores. The quarrels got heated when that particular sibling who refused to do house chores took the biggest share of food. As the last born, I was the dishwasher of the house, a chore I detested when I was much younger. Because I was the smallest, my older siblings would make me do them. There were days when I cried and vowed never to talk to them ever again. Later, I would come to realize that I was only being childish.
Growing up, my family, particularly my siblings and I quarreled many times, yet, after every quarrel, we still found ourselves together, our bond growing stronger. The many fights taught us that no matter what happens, our bond will always remain strong. I realized very early that your family is the most important people to you and whenever something happens to them, it gets to you too. I have witnessed many fights. I have witnessed my friends fight with each other, but the day I witnessed my sister in a fight with someone, something rose in me.
I remember that day like it was yesterday. It was a Saturday evening. We all went to church, my sisters went to choir rehearsals while I went for another thing. I was in front of the church when I suddenly heard someone shout my name. I recognized the voice, it was my sister. I rushed there immediately and saw that a boy, who was much younger than me, had grabbed my sister’s shirt. I didn’t know what had happened. I didn’t know whose fault it was, but immediately I saw them, my adrenaline pumped, I rushed there and gave the boy the beating of his life. If it was another person, I would definitely have tried to settle the fight, but with my sister, the outcome was different.
Blood is thicker than water. Friends will betray you. Friends will stab you from the back with a 6 inch knife, but your family will always be there for you. I used to struggle to ask people for help, my best friend complained about this several times, but I still couldn’t get myself to change. The only people I could ask for help were my family members. Even till now, I struggle to ask other people that are not my family for financial help, but I guess things are better now. Compared to before, I can ask friends for help, just not for money-related things.
We've heard stories of how friends betray each other. In this part of the world, friends kill friends for money. But does that mean family can't also do that? Does that mean blood will never betray blood? Of course, this also happens. Those who do this aren't true family. They've been blinded by their own desires.
They've allowed their desires to overshadow their family's bond. I love my family so much. No matter what happens, I know they'll be there for me. I know that whenever I'm weak, they'll offer me a shoulder to lean on, even without me asking.
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