My sister and I are Irish twins; I am the older one. With the exception of my years in college, we have always lived together. We shared a room as children and chose to live together as adults.

After around 20 years, she told me she was going to move in with her girlfriend (partner). I felt broken and lost. I was already in another deep depressive episode, and I just couldn't handle it, but I never said anything to her.

Yes, there were times I liked when she was gone and I had the place to myself, but I liked having someone there. Someone who had dinner ready when I came home, someone to hang out with, someone to talk with. We had mutual friends and had them over often. I really enjoyed living with her, but I knew there would come a day when one of us would leave.

I was standing on the back porch, tears in my eyes, as the movers took the last of her things to the truck. She came out and put her arm around me telling me it would be ok. She was only going to be 2 blocks away and I could come over often. She has since moved about a half hour away so I don't see her as often.

She was doing something that made her happy and I have always wanted that for her. She was in love and ready to make that commitment to her partner, but that didn't help how I felt about losing her.

She's married now with 2 kids. While talking to her on the phone she'll say to me "it's so nice to have the house to herself". I tell her to be careful what she wishes for.

I still feel lonely living by myself. I had to give up our cleaning lady and sending out my laundry and it's hard to get myself to do these things for myself.

My depression, anxiety, ... have become so persistent I am on disability. My sister's moving out is only a small portion of this, but I miss her. We shared a room as children and lived together as a adults. I have not had a closer relationship than I have had with her.