My heartwas breaking. She lifted my head with great love. "Don't be so sadbe-cause of something so small," my sister said. She said everyword cheerfully, though I could tell from the quiver of her bottom lipshe was hiding sadness. "I'm only going to college," shegrinned, adding, "I'll visit you, I won't forget!" I smiledhalf-heartedly, but the wound of loss grew deeper. Secretly, I knewthings would never be the same. I looked at her beautiful brown eyes andturned away, sensing another wave of sadness would soon overtakeme.

Gradually, I looked at her eyes again. I could see theimagination be-yond, a world of wonder and mystery waiting to beunleashed. She wiped the tears from my eyes and hugged me.

Thetime I have been dreading has finally come. I must learn to live withoutmy sister.

Every once in a while, someone asks who my hero is.I've never had a true answer; usually I just say the first person whocomes to mind. Recently, I discovered who my hero really is. I havetalked to, confided in and laughed with this wonderful girl every day.There is no other person in the world who could take her place. I havealways known we are close, but never realized how close we really were.Without knowing it, I've had a hero every day of my life.