The long-lost sister from Australia
DESPITE the shock revelation, from the moment Noelle first contacted me I wanted to meet her and Fintan. Her message had been lost in cyberspace for six weeks and I was horrified she might think I didn’t want to know her. I remember calling her up as soon as I could and amid tears and laughter we had our first conversation as sisters.
Since that day six years ago our bond as sisters has grown stronger and stronger. Finding Noelle and Fintan and their families has been very important and extremely positive. I had always seen my life as incomplete. Like three sides of a square, the fourth one missing.
Much of that is connected to when dad left mum, Paul and me to get married again. But finding Noelle and Fintan has added a fourth side and it feels like my square is nearly complete now.
Being with Noelle is different from being with a girlfriend. There is an unconditional quality to our relationship. With Noelle I feel I don’t have to impress her and I can share ideas and thoughts on anything with ease.
We contact each other at least once a week, usually messaging, and talk on the phone every couple of weeks. Despite the big distance between us we remain close and I have made a big effort to travel as frequently as I can so that we can meet up.
When we do meet hours can pass talking but there is never a sense of making up for lost time.
I think both of us agree there is no point thinking of the past. All we can do is move forward since we can’t get back what we never had.
We are united in our choice to make the most of what we have now.