I have two cousins named Bryan and Elsa, but they were more than just cousins to me.

They felt like siblings.

They felt like home.

We were three kids who belonged together.

We spent every holiday together.

Thanksgiving was loud, full of food, and filled with laughter.
Christmas was bright, cozy, and filled with music.
Birthdays meant cake, pictures, and staying up too late.

Holidays felt warm and full of familia and love.

We had our own traditions.

We played outside until someone called us in.
We sat close on the couch and shared blankets.
We laughed, whispered secrets, and made memories.

“This is the best day ever,” Elsa said.
Bryan laughed and replied, “We should do this forever.”

But one day, life changed.

Not because we wanted it to.
Not because we stopped caring about each other.

Sometimes grown-ups make hard decisions,
and kids don’t always understand them.

After that, we couldn’t see each other like before.

Holidays felt quieter.
There were fewer laughs and fewer hugs.
Something important was missing.

“Why can’t we all be together?” I wondered.

At first, I waited and hoped.

I thought things might go back to normal.
I watched the calendar and counted the days.
I believed we would be together again soon.

But time kept moving forward.

Even when we were apart, I still thought about them.

I remembered our jokes and our smiles.
I imagined them sitting next to me during holidays.
They were always in my heart.

Distance did not erase our bond.

As time passed, we grew older.

School became harder.
Life became busier.
We were changing in different ways.

But love doesn’t disappear just because time passes.