something i think a lot of people don't realize about the foster system is that siblings often get separated, too, when we need each other the most. for over a decade, i've held onto this letter that my little brother wrote to me when we were sent to separate foster homes.

our family needed an intervention, there's no question about that. but the foster system tears families apart in a punitive way that traumatizes everyone involved. what if that intervention had looked like support, mental healthcare, childcare, and the resources we had needed?

when my little brother returned home, the root causes that led to our removal had never been addressed. to this day, those issues have not been addressed.

jason is gone now, and on this anniversary of his death, it's hard not to feel angry that we didn't have more time together.