My Brother and I Raised Our Younger Siblings After Losing Our Mother

My name is Anna, and I am one of a set of twins. Five years ago, my brother Daniel and I were just eighteen, planning college and dreaming about independence, when life suddenly changed. Our mother became seriously ill, and as she began treatment, our father quietly withdrew.

One evening, he gathered us in the living room and explained that he could not handle the situation. He said he needed a different life and left soon after. There were no follow-up calls, no financial support, and no explanations to our three younger siblings, who were still children.

From that moment, Daniel and I were no longer just older siblings—we became the foundation holding our family together. In the months that followed, we learned to manage responsibilities far beyond our years. We attended court hearings, filled out paperwork, and were officially granted guardianship of Liam, Maya, and Sophie.

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