I didn’t believe her when she first told me. It was impossible, she had to be lying.

I walked over to where my mom was sitting with her best friend Melis, talking about whatever grownups talked about.

“You’re not pregnant, right?” I asked, sure that she’d reply with a no and be surprised I’d even accused her of such a thing.

Her face went blank.

“How’d you know?” She asked.

All heads turned to Ahtziry, who was sitting in the living room with a guilty look on her face.

“I … might’ve told her.”

“Oh my gosh, I’m so sorry!” Melis cried, apologizing for her daughter's actions.

“It’s alright, it’s alright.” said my mom in a slightly disappointed tone, knowing she wouldn’t be able to give me the big news herself.

Meanwhile, I stood, staring into space, still taking in the news myself. I hadn’t decided if I should be jumping with joy from the thought of a new brother or sister or if I should be running to my room with tears down my face from the fear of what terrors siblings might bring.

After Melis and Ahtziry left, my mom and my stepfather sat me down to talk about the new addition to the family and how things were going to change. Before I knew it, what was once the dog’s room had been completely remodeled into a little girl’s nursery, a variety of baby-proofing things that ranged from outlet covers to baby gates were scattered around the house, and it looked like there was football in my mom’s tummy.

I still remember the drive to the hospital, my aunt in a panic, whereas I, had no clue what was going on. She explained to me that my mom was having the baby, and a rush of excitement and fear blew through me. “Is she going to be ok? Is the baby coming home? What will happen when she does come home?” Thoughts ran through my head, good and bad. Once we arrived at the hospital, we ran up to the waiting area where the rest of my family was waiting. As we checked in, I glanced to the glass door leading to god knows where, and saw nurses roll a hospital bed carrying my mom run by. Her baby bump gone. “Where did it go?” I wondered.

Hours went by as we sat in the waiting room. We had heard no updates on her condition, so we prayed for the best. Finally, a nurse wearing scrubs the color of cotton candy, came to tell us we could see her. I practically leaped out of my seat and ran ahead of the group, but quickly drew back when I realized I had no clue where I was going. We followed the nurse through the winding halls, hearing a cough or a sneeze here and there as we walked. When we got to the room my mom was staying in, I rushed in before anyone else. She attempted to greet us with hugs, but she couldn’t move without being in pain, who could blame her?

After a while, the same nurse that had escorted us to the room before, brought in the baby and handed it to my mom. She was so tiny, you could hold her in the palms of your hands.

“Do you want to  hold her?” my mom asked.

“Me? I don’t know, what if I drop it?”

“Her.” She corrected. “And you won’t drop her, sit on the chair and I’ll hand her to you.”

Hesitantly, I sat. My mom placed her in my arms, and instantly, I knew why everyone loved that baby smell. I looked at her, looked at her fingers, looked at her toes, everything about her was so delicate, so small. Little did I know, this small little being would be a huge impact on my life. She would shape my identity and give me qualities I had never obtained before. Sh would teach me responsibility and selflessness, allowing my personality to develop. She made me into the person that I am now and changed me for the better. Seven years later, she’s continued to change and influence me, and I have been gifted with two more sisters to both learn and develop from.

All things considered, though my sisters may be a pain, they have shaped my identity greatly. If it weren’t for them, I wouldn’t know half the things I did now. They have allowed me to have experience with everything from helping people through difficult times to helping people get their head unstuck from a bucket. They are my identity.