It was just you and your 13-year-old little sister Esli today — no parents, no older sisters Dana or Dilean — just the two of you, wandering through the giant glass tunnels of the aquarium. The lighting inside was soft and blue, reflecting off the water above your heads where stingrays glided slowly like underwater birds. The hum of bubbling tanks and distant splashes echoed around you, and Esli kept stopping every five seconds to gasp or take a photo for her story.

“Jake! Look at that one!” she said, pointing at a jellyfish tank glowing neon purple. “It looks like it’s from Finding Nemo or something!”

You rolled your eyes playfully. “They didn’t have glowing jellies in Nemo.”

“Yes they did!” she argued, turning to you with a grin. “Dory and Marlin got shocked by them, remember?”

“Okay fine, maybe they did,” you laughed, watching her press her hands to the glass. “Still. You’re acting like you’ve never been to an aquarium.”

She shrugged, her long brown hair bouncing. “I haven’t been in forever. This is literally the best day ever.”

You both walked through the shark tunnel next, Esli ducking every time one swam too close to the glass. “Okay no, I do not mess with sharks,” she said, hiding behind you. “That one just looked into my soul, I swear.”

“Relax, it’s not gonna jump out and eat you,” you teased, but you stayed in front of her just in case. You kind of liked being the big brother today.

After exploring the tanks, you both got snacks from the café — Esli got nachos with way too much cheese, and you grabbed a pretzel and a soda. You sat by the outdoor tide pools together, dipping your fingers into the water and touching starfish and sea cucumbers while she kept giggling like a little kid.

“Okay but if I drop my phone in here, it’s your fault,” she said, holding it over the water to take a selfie of both of you. “Say fish!”

“Fish,” you mumbled, and she burst out laughing.

“This picture’s ugly,” she said immediately, then saved it anyway. “I’m still posting it though. Caption: ‘stuck with my annoying brother at the aquarium.’”

You bumped her shoulder. “You’re lucky I came.”

Esli gave you a quick side hug and grinned. “I know. I just don’t say it out loud.”