MY SISTER MY BEST FRIEND

Chantal has always been a big part of my life from the earliest of age, I remember her mothering me, bathing me, dressing me, brushing my hair lovingly. When I was ill with croup at 4, Chantal comforted me cuddled me, slept by my side. Stroking my hair letting me know she loved me.

I felt safe when we were together.

Chantal always had time for other people even when we were teenagers she worked for the mentally handicapped adults and children at a CENTRE in the evenings after school. She took me with her one time. She was so natural with the people talking to them, playing games and drawing. I felt a little uncomfortable as you can imagine, but as I watched I realised my sister had a connection with people everybody she met fell in love with her. If not for her beautiful face and smile, then for her caring and loving nature. Chantal has always been a very special person gifted in so many ways. I am so proud and so lucky to have her as my sister and friend.

I reminisce sometimes of when we were younger and shared a bedroom together as Chantal was older than me she sometimes went out for the evening and I would wait up in bed for her to return, when she came in we would talk loads about different kinds of stuff. Sometimes if we could not get to sleep we would play silly games like catch with a sponge ball so our parents could not hear us, or we would play memory games. I used to love these times they were very special.

I was not particularly happy at one stage in my childhood so I decided it would be best for everybody if I went to live with my mum. I missed Chantal and our times together even though I would see Chantal regularly.

It was different; she had become a woman. I felt our band had loosened but we never stopped feeling the love we had for each other.

I remember the day Chantal decided to go and live in America for 6 months. All her relatives and friends where at the airport, many tears were shed, we all felt the loss, but I especially Chantal said she would write to me and she did very often. I grew up and had my first child but I was very young. When Chantal found out about the baby she sent me a beautiful necklace and a suit for my son. She wrote in a letter to me, "I’m so sorry I was not there for you, maybe if I was you could have talked to me about it." How typical of my sister always thinking of others and what she could do to help. Not long after Chantal returned home to see the new member of the family she cuddled my son Jonathan in her arms and looked at him lovingly. She said to me "he’s so beautiful Jo you are so lucky" we wrote to each other more often after Jonathon and spoke on the telephone every week I think it brought us closer together.

I remember the first time I went to America to visit Chantal. She loved nothing better than to cook for my son & I, buying us gifts taking us to all the places of interest. Everyday she made special, generous with her time and always treating us she loved nothing better than to put a smile on our faces and oh how she did. On the last evening before we returned home we went out for a meal together we were sat chatting and laughing enjoying our time together.

She held my hand and said to me, "I’m so glad we’re sisters and I want you to know I will always love you". I felt choked I know she meant every word.

How time has passed since then, so many things have changed my father passing away my daughter whom Chantal has not seen for three years because she is in prison serving 24 years. Everyday is a bad dream. I wake up and realise I may never see my sister again. I will never be able to hold her and tell her how much I love her and I do so much. I cannot believe sometimes my beautiful, loving, caring sister is in a prison cell. The least likely of people my sister always honest & true. How can and could this have happened, some days I feel so guilty and wish it was me nobody deserves such a sentence for this crime let alone Chantal. It’s so difficult for myself and my family to take it all in. Chantal has never hurt anybody or anything a lover of life who lives each day to the full never taking anything for granted. We contact each other by letter and pictures and many of them. But the heartache in her words say it all when will this suffering end for Chantal, when will justice be served and the truth spoken out, soon I hope for all our sakes but mostly for Chantal. I would not wish this on anyone. Her courage and determination is outstanding. Her faith in God strong. And sometimes how I wish I were small again back to the time when we shared a room every night Chantal would say to me cuddle me Jo and I would cuddle her tightly "I love you Jo" she would say "see you in the morning."

I will see you soon my darling sister and I will cuddle you, like I did then and never let you go….

My love always your little sister Jo xxxx