Touching and sad and painful. A mustard seed of hope, however, is all that’s needed. My sister was estranged from my family for 20 years, stemming from issues with my mother. She reconnected with us a few years ago and things are pretty darn good between her and my mother now.

What’s stopping you from contacting her?

It’s not necessary to say the perfect words, only that you’ve been thinking about her and are interested in talking or meeting, if in fact she is willing to.