By the Time They Missed Me, I Was Gone

On college decision night, my entire family crowded around my twin sister, Lily.

My brother Ethan pulled up a map of Boston and compared the distance between her dorm and his campus. Ryan, my childhood best friend, gave up his place at McGill because Lily admitted she was scared to start college without someone familiar nearby.

My parents couldn't have been happier. Now Lily would always have someone ready to take care of her.

It took them most of the evening to remember that I had a decision to make too.