My sister announced in the family group chat that I was officially banned from the reunion—and made it clear no one was to tell me where it would be. I didn’t argue. I didn’t reply. I simply opened the location pin… and laughed so hard I had to cover my mouth.

My older sister entered the world like an event and has been conducting herself accordingly ever since. She is one of those women who learned early that attention behaves like currency and never stopped spending it. When we were younger, teachers called her vivacious. Boys called her gorgeous. Older women called her spirited right up until the moment they had to actually organize anything around her and discovered that charm is not a substitute for discipline. Bridget is loud, magnetic in short bursts, careless with facts, addicted to admiration, and convinced that wanting something is morally adjacent to earning it.

When Bridget had dance recitals, the whole family became stage crew.

When Bridget had heartbreaks, the house dimmed into mourning.

When Bridget had ideas, everyone was expected to clap.

Then Kyle.