So, I agreed to let Emma sleep in my room. I set up a sleeping bag on the floor, and she would snuggle up next to me. It was a bit awkward at first, but as the nights went on, I started to enjoy her company. We would talk and giggle before falling asleep, and I found myself looking forward to having her in my room.
She still has bad nights. Anxiety doesn’t vanish overnight. But now she has tools: a weighted blanket, a text-message safety net, and the knowledge that she survived alone once, so she can do it again. My stepsister can-t rest alone and decides to s...