"Kanerah was born a few minutes before me. I suppose she just elbowed me out of the way in our mother's womb,

"Kanerah was born a few minutes before me. I suppose she just elbowed me out of the way in our mother's womb, to become the firstborn. Being the first – that's what she always craved. I never felt offended by it, though. Whenever the storm clouds gathered above our heads, heralding danger and trouble, my sister walked forward one step ahead, tightly holding my hand."