And Sofie was there for the more subtle moments as well: changing diapers, braiding and styling our hair, providing a listening ear and sound advice to our worries and growing pains, encouraging us to pursue our hearts' desires, laughing with us until her belly ached, and dancing and singing with us in the kitchen as we cooked.

Sofie and I had a particularly close bond. We were both artists and sensitive souls who understood each other in the most profound of ways. Some of the happiest memories from my childhood are from the moments I spent with Sofie. When Sofie and I were together, we would chat for hours about everything under the sun - art, literature, family, etc. We were notorious night owls who could be caught having a philosophical conversation or sharing a hearty laugh at 3:00 a.m. or cooking at midnight the evening before a big holiday. During the day, we could be found sitting around the house drawing with each other and enjoying a cup of coffee. Sofie and I understood each other's deepest vulnerabilities and greatest aspirations, and we found a unique sense of comfort in each other's company.

In addition to being an older sister figure to me and my siblings, Sofie was another bridge to our Ethiopian culture. She taught us how to cook Ethiopian food and make buna. She relayed stories to us about our grandparents in Ethiopia who we never had the chance to meet. She taught us about our history and culture and attempted to teach us Amharic on many occasions. She taught us how to dance eskita and introduced me to the artwork of Afework Tekle. Whenever my siblings and I didn't know what was going on in an Amharic conversation, Sofie would keep us informed by gently whispering the English translation in our ears. Sofie unraveled the mystery of my culture and heritage in the most beautiful and gentle of ways.

Anyone who knew Sofie, knew that her family was paramount in her life. She loved her parents and anxiously awaited their visits each year. She loved her siblings and would often recount humorous and poignant memories from their childhood. She received immense joy from spending time with her nieces and nephews and retelling anecdotes about their mischief and humor.

She took an incredible amount of pride in the accomplishments of her younger siblings, cousins, nieces, and nephews and was always there to offer her support and praise.

Sofie loved life. She appreciated every aspect of life and savored the beauty of the small moments. In addition to appreciating art, she was deeply touched by music. In fact, she mentioned to me that when seeing live opera in Italy for the first time she wept because she was so moved by the music, even though she could not understand the words. Through her enthusiasm for life, Sofie taught us all to appreciate the abundance of the present.

Perhaps the quality that stood out most about Sofie was her generosity. She was one of the most compassionate and generous people I have ever known. Though Sofie may have not known it, she shined wherever she went and brought joy into the hearts of those she encountered. While Sofie was generous and loving of others, she was often hard on herself. She was a perfectionist who expected the best of herself, even in times when the odds were against her. To me, Sofie was a beautiful rose struggling to bloom amidst thrones. She never gave herself enough