On January 13, 2000, my life changed forever. I got up that morning and went through my normal routine of getting ready for school. As I got to school, I had a bad feeling that something was going to happen today. But I just ignored it and tried to go on with my normal day. My day was going great, nothing happening and everything was fine.

“Sorry for interrupting. Do you have Katie Vaughn in your class?” the announcer said. My teacher said, “Yes I do.” The announcer said to please send her to the office.

When those words were said I stopped breathing. I could not think of anything that I did wrong. I saw the principal standing and waiting for me. He took me into a conference room where I saw my mom, brother and aunt. I did not see my sister. My mom sat me down and said, “We lost Tiffany in a car wreck.” At that moment, my sister and my life flashed before my eyes.

From then on my life changed, and now I have a scar in my heart from what happened to my sister. When I se sisters together, I think about my sister and me. The way we used to put on make-up on each other and dress up together when we were little. I could hear us laughing together, and when I was sad, she would be there for me so I could cry on her shoulder. Everyday I wonder, where is my sister? Why did she have to go so soon.

It has been almost three years now, and not a day goes by that I have not thought about her. She was the other side of me when I se pictures of myself, I look just like her. There will never be a day when I do not think about her. As days go by I wonder who I’m going to tell when I get my first kiss; when I turn 13 years old and become a teenager and learn new things, who is going to teach me?

I am going to miss my sister a whole lot, but the number one thing is I love her still so much. However, I have to move on. I have to stop living in the past. I have to not be afraid to let go and go on with my life.

Katie Vaughn, Age 15