Cahira was your average little kid... Until her father was shot to death when she was five. Her mother, Angelika, took his death hard, and began to be easily overwhelmed by raising two daughters. So, at just five years old, she took on some of the responsibilities of raising her younger sister by two years, Etoile.
Due to this, the two sisters grew close -- closer than your normal siblings. The two would play and hang out; and the older Cahira got, the more motherly she became with Etoile.
They never went to public or private schools. Instead, they had online classes. The two sisters seemed to excel in art, which would -on rare occasions- bring their mother out of her depression for a short period of time.
Even though those moments were brief, it still was enough for Hira -as her sister called her- to keep her happy. Though she was somewhat cold with her mother, she could still have rare, happy moments.
That would all change when, at only thirteen, her little sister was diagnosed with a rare, deadly cancer known as Heartnova. The cancer, which severely weakened the young girl, devastated the elder sibling.
Angelika took it hard as well, falling into a deeper depression than  before, and completely isolating herself from society. This lead to several heated arguments between Cahira and her mother. She was pissed because her mother, the woman who was supposed to be there for her, was now almost a complete stranger. The arguments would sometimes even lead to physical attacks from Angelika, who was increasingly becoming unstable.
It was during one such fight, a few months  into Etoile's sickness, that changed everyone's lives forever.
As mother and daughter fought, Etoile -who was naïve to the physical altercations- had come downstairs to try and stop the argument. She hadn't even had time to say something before the events that would alter her and her sister's life enfolded.
Angelika, pissed, slapped her daughter. Hard.
Within an instant, Etoile -who was almost as protective of her sister as Hira was of her- had seized her mother's wrist and yelled at her. Angelika, who was already blind with rage, pulled her arm back and -in a move too quick for Cahira to stop- punched the younger girl in the ribs. Hard.
Loud, resounding cracks echoed through the entire house before silence fell for a split second...
Then the screams ensured.
Angelika, who had snapped out of her rage, stared in horror as her youngest crumpled to the floor, holding her sides.
The mother stood there, frozen, for some minutes. Meanwhile, Cahira had rushed to her sibling's side. Trying desperately to comfort her, she cradled the young girl. Then, rage overtaking her, she screamed at her mother to call an ambulance.
When the paramedics arrived, they quickly rushed Etoile to the hospital, Hira never leaving her side.
Normally, a few broken ribs wouldn't be so severe. However, Etoile's cancer had weakened her body so much so that this was nearly fatal.
The young girl was hospitalized. For the rest of her young life, she would be stuck in a hospital bed.
Angelika, who had been horrified by how it was all her fault, fell into manic depression. And, within a few days, hung herself.
Cahira stayed by her sister's side 24/7 for the nearly two years of life Etoile had left. She hadn't even gone to her mother's funeral...
About a year in, her sister was lying awake, unable to sleep due to the pain. Cahira was right beside her, trying everything to calm her sister to sleep. Finally, though, Etoile made a suggestion.
A lullaby.
Now, as a young girl, Cahira used to sing her younger sister to sleep. But that was years ago. But... She didn't want to disappoint her sister. So, reluctantly, the girl began to sing. It wasn't an "actual" song -- instead, it was a song she had written back when she was ten.
It was stupid. It didn't really even make sense...
But it wasn't the /song/ that made the difference. Instead, it was the voice singing it. Because as she sang, Cahira's awkwardness fell away, her voice growing louder and stronger with each passing second. Soon, everyone in the hall could hear the melody.
But it wasn't loud in a bad way. Instead, it comforted those ailing and those who were grieving. Within a few minutes, Etoile -and many of the patients and their families- were lulled into a calm sleep.
And so, every night since then, for nearly a year, Cahira sang her sister -and many others- asleep.
It was on one of these nights that on of the RNs decided to record Cahira's voice (without her knowing) and posted it online the next day. In an hour, it had fifty views. Then one hundred. Then a thousand. Within 24 hours, the girl had become an Internet sensation.
This continued on. Cahira and her sister didn't know, and she continued to gain fame with each new song she sang. Until one day, when a new nurse came in to check on Etoile. When she was shocked and asked for Hira's autograph, Hira demanded answers.
So, shocked, the older woman showed her.
At first, the girl was pissed.
How could someone take her songs, her time with her sister, and post it without her consent?! Soon after, record companies began contacting her, wanting her to sign on to a contract. She was promised fame, riches, friends, lovers.... But Hira couldn't care less.
Instead, she stayed by her sister's side. She hadn't stopped singing every night, but now she was more wary...
It was almost time. Her sister was dying. It was to the point of Etoile being on life support. She could barely talk, and she really couldn't move her head. But, in her final hours, she was able to grab Hira's hand.
Her voice was raspy, and it was very quiet, but she managed to give her sister a final wish.
"Share your voice."
Cahira agreed, promising her she'd do it, even... Even if Etoile wouldn't be there to share the fame.
An hour later, Etoile took her final breath.
Keeping her promise, Cahira became a famous singer at the age of fifteen. She signed a contract, wrote all her own songs, and shared her voice with the world. She would visit the sick and dying, and she would sing to them when they asked.
On her first album, she dedicated it to her lost sister. The money she made was given to researchers to help find a cure for cancer. Her first tour? In honor of Etoile. She never forgot her sister. And she never will.