The last time I saw my sister, she had just come from surgery and was drowsy. She had a weak heart and any illness was potentially lethal to her, so I had to wear a mask. She was in her mid-thirties but she still looked so young. I could hear her pacemaker ticking. She hugged me and joked around with me. I remember the nurse laughing and she said, “Your sister is very funny.” We had to leave because she needed to sleep. I asked her for her phone number but she told me she didn’t have one.

In the car my dad told me that Tara had said she wasn’t afraid to die, she just didn’t want it to hurt. I hope that it didn’t hurt Tara.

I can hear her voice in my head. She had such a good voice. I miss my sister’s voice.