One – Skye aged 8

Dear Diary,

Today was sad. Rhydian came home from school so happy. I wasn't happy. Rhydian had left me with mummy and daddy while he went to school. School, in the middle of the holidays. Rhydian is a freak. But when he came in he was happy and he had a word with mummy and daddy alone.

I didn't understand why. Why my big brother by 10 years was so happy. Turns out he passed his school exams. And he'd been offered a job. In Africa. Teaching English to children out there. So he was leaving. At the end of the holidays. For Africa.

THAT'S 8 HOURS BY PLANE! It's not like I can just go visit him every week. Rhydian is leaving me and it's not FAIR! I don't want him to leave. He said he would always be here for me, but he can't be if he's in Africa. I don't want him to go, I just don't!

Sorry, for punching a hole in you just then. I just got upset. Write to you soon, hopefully when things are happier,

Skye.

"Skye, let me in," Rhydian said through my door.

"Go away. I don't want you in here. You're leaving me. You promised. And now you're breaking it," I said closing my ladybird patterned notebook which was my diary. I swung my legs off my bed and hid it in my sock drawer. I then turned to face the door, behind which I had moved my toybox to stop Rhydian coming in.

"I am still here for you. You can skype me and text me and call me and email me," Rhydian pleaded through my door. "I mean you're more technology smart than I am. You can email already and you're only 8. I was about 12 when I knew how to do it," Rhydian said.

"It's not the same. You'll be missing and mummy and daddy will be sad that you're not here and I'll be sad because you're not here. But you won't be sad," I said pouting and going and laying on my bed, face down. There was silence and then I heard crying through the door. "Rhydian?" I asked. "Rhydian are you crying?" There was no reply except the crying so I got off the bed and pushed the toybox away from the door. The door didn't swing open like I thought it would. I tentatively opened the door and saw Rhydian sitting slumped against the wall next to my room, head in his knees crying. I looked at him for a moment and then crouched down next to him and wrapped my little arms around his neck, resting my small, but apparently cute, fingers on his cheek. "Rhyd? I'm sorry. I didn't mean to make you cry," I said.

He looked up at me, his tears sparkling. "How could you say I won't be sad? You'll have mum and dad with you. I'll be all alone. With no one else who I know. Of course I'll be sad. I'll be away from you all and won't see you grow up," Rhydian said. "Don't ever think that me leaving you means that I won't stop being here for you, loving you and feeling sad because I miss you Skye. You're my little princess remember," Rhydian prompted. I giggled slightly.

I kissed his cheek. "Ok, I get it," I said.

"Good. Now I need my little princess's help. I want to buy mum and dad a present before I leave and I need some new clothes and you're such a good little stylist I thought you might like to come," Rhydian said. I giggled and nodded. "Good girl. Now go fetch your coat and boots. We'll go shopping," he said.

I went back into my room and glanced at my sock drawer. "Do I have time to do something quickly?" I asked. He nodded from my doorway.

"As long as you are quick. I'll see you downstairs," Rhydian said. Once he was gone I ran over to my sock drawer and pulled out my diary.

Dear Diary,

I made Rhydian cry. I'm such a bad sister. I told him he wouldn't be sad when he went away but the rest of us would. But he's the one alone, without family and moving to a new country with no friends. Of course he's sad. So I have forgiven him. I want Rhydian to be happy. And this makes him happy.

I'm going shopping with him now for a present for mummy and daddy and some new summer clothes for Rhydian – I wonder if Africa is always hot? Maybe Rhydian will be able to live in shorts for the rest of his life, he loves shorts and wears them whenever he can.

Write again soon,

Skye.