The boys left. Emma was stunned. “I was supposed to protect her. I just froze.”

Ultimately, these stories are less about "who is bigger" and more about the evolution of a lifelong bond. Once the initial ego-bruising of the older sibling fades, most families find a new equilibrium. The younger sister’s strength becomes a point of family pride, and the height difference becomes a quirky footnote in their shared history.

She set the dresser down gently and looked at me—not with pity, but with quiet understanding. “You never do,” she said.