*Your eyes are not deceiving you...I reposted this so that it was at the top of the page...

Sorry that it took a few days, however, here is the history behind the AWish4ASis project:

"The names of the people involved have been changed to protect the victims identity, however the facts and story are all true and accurate."

My name is Melody and I'm 28 years old. I don't have much family but I do have a sister that I didn't know I had until February 25th, 2006.

As one of many thousands of American Idol fans, I am glued to the tv everytime that show comes on, to see what Simon is going to say! So was my sister. I have a huge thing when it comes to stronger punishment for sex offenders, and I started to think about where a person might go to look for young kids online, and immediately thought of the American Idol website message boards.

I posted a link on there for USWatchDog and it was taken down by the website moderators after about an hour. I continued to post the link, and it was continually removed, so I was thinking it was hopeless that it may actually reach out and touch someone.

However, I was wrong.

Within 10 minutes of me posting the link the first time I got an e-mail from a girl who I would like to name Bella, because she is beautiful on the inside and the outside.

She was fourteen years old and very mature for her age and she and I were trying to figure out why the website moderator kept pulling my link down.

She and I started talking online and I realized that I had a sister! There was a love between us from the very beginning.

She opened up to me about her childhood and what had drawn her to my post in the first place and the things she told me that she had gone through saddened me to my core. This beautiful light of a person, had repeatedly been sexually abused when she was only five years old. It continued for three years. The details are not important, all they would do would sicken you and embarrass her even though her identity is being kept private, she is not just a story, she is a real girl with feelings.

She had never told anyone what she had been through. Yet here I was, a total stranger in which she could confide in.

I suppose she knew that I loved her and I posed no threat because I didn't know her place in the world, and didn't know her family so I could tell no one and she was still safe with her secret.

Lots of times people who are sexually abused develop eating disorders, and like many young girls Bella had too. I could definitely relate to this because for ten years I had struggled with anorexia. Once again I understood and didn't love her any less for her hardships. In fact, I love her more for the strength she had to tell me what she was going through.

We talked every day online and eventually on the phone. That told me she trusted me, because at that moment she knew I could tell her parents what had happened, but I didn't. She had been through enough and what she needed was someone to love her and that I did...I still do.

I came to find that her first language is French and she helped me with my French and I helped her with her English homework. We read the same books and did school projects together online and on the phone. We couldn't have been closer if she were sitting right next to me and the love was there.....we were sisters and we both knew it.

She told me one day that she wanted to to tell her family what had happened, but that she was afraid and embarassed to tell them. I have to say that I can understand because I went through something similiar and my rational was that if no one knew, it didn't happen, so I kept it to myself for a long time.

Bella is a really strong girl, but even the strongest people in the world break down.

What I didn't know was that there were many nights online that we would be talking and she would be at her computer crying and wouldn't tell anyone why.

I think that she reached a point of equal strength and weakness, and in a moment of both she decided to tell her mother what happened to her. However she still didn't want her father to know. I can say, being a female, that is more embarassing than anything in the world to a girl.

The next day I spent hours on the phone talking with Bella and her mother, and we all connected in a very special way. Her mom finally understood the special bond between a girl who is twenty eight years old and her fourteen year old daughter, and she said it would be OK if I wanted to come visit. She also knew it would help Bella in talking to her father if she had a support system.

I didn't really have the money right then to jump on a plane to Canada for a week, so I prayed on it.

A week later, maybe two (I can't remember accurately what the time frame was), my prayers were answered. I unexpectedly received a settlement check that would allow me the ability to go to Canada for a week.

So the trip was booked, and I was on my way to meet my sister for the very first time.

My trip to see her was one of the most memorable experiences of my life, because I truly feel in my heart that Bella is my sister. She was even more beautiful on the inside and outside in person. Her family welcomed me with open arms and we spent a lovely week together in Canada.

During my visit, Bella and I sat down, and talked to both of her parents about what had happened to her. It was a really sad night.

I was there to support her during that time, for which I will always be grateful.

I wiped her tears and held her close as the memories came back to her, like a bad movie in which she was the main role.

This sweet beautiful girl would do anything in the world for anyone, and I can't help but wonder why these types of things seem to happen to the greatest of people.

Maybe these experiences are partially responsible for her greatness and her compassion. But I do believe in my heart she would be the same wonderful girl without all the pain.

In fact, I'm certain of it.

Let me tell you something Bella did so that you understand one of the many reasons why I love her so much!!

Recently her teachers put together a project in school, in which she got five boxes and placed them in the front of the classroom. She went on to tell the students about these children in Africa who don't have anything and were less fortunate than they were. With the holidays coming up, the teacher thought it would be nice if the students each brought something to fill these boxes to send to the children in Africa for Christmas.

When none of the students did anything, Bella became so emotional that she took all the boxes herself. On her own, she went to the store that day with all of the money she saved from babysitting and filled the boxes herself!

When she told me this I was so proud of her!

The reason was because she does things like this without an ulterior motive...She does it because he heart is pure! That is just one of the many things to love about her.

Since I met her, she has moved forward with her family in the legal process to bring justice to the person which abused her, and it's not easy...in fact it's terribly difficult and sad.

Sisters know when their other sister is needed.

I wanted to go spend some time with my sister again.

A dear friend of mine had a credit with Northwest Airlines which he transferred to me.

I recently returned from a trip to Canada, where I spent 5 wonderful days with my sister doing "girly things".

We spent five days listening to Paula Abdul (her favorite singer), doing arts and crafts, shopping, going to the movies, out to dinner and had a great time doing what sisters do but I realized something when I was there.....

Bella is a great girl who is compassionate, loving, smart and one of the strongest people I've ever known in my life. And while she doesn't think so, I can tell you that she is.

My sister, who would do anything for anyone, lives in a place that leaves much to be desired.

The mall where she lives consists of about 6 stores and that is all there really is there.

As we were walking back from the movies, we passed a truck with some guys in it that were sitting in the parking lot and it looked like they were smoking crack. They began making comments and gestures towards us. I was really afraid but my fifteen year old sister laughed at me and said she was used to this.

She has the potential to do wonderful things with her life and help countless people with her heart and her experiences.

She wants to go to Africa when she is older to work with the rape victims in the shelter that Oprah set up.

She is only fifteen years old and has already looked into the risks and immunizations she would need to do this.

She is a wonderful girl, but she sees this as impossible and a dream that will never come true, because things like that don't happen to people who live where she lives.

Having been there I can understand why she feels that way honestly.

I want to take her on a trip of motivation and inspiration.

I want to take her to NYC for one week for her 16th birthday, which is this August 2007.

I want her to see what else is out there, and give her the motivation and determination to strive for something more!

She has the ability to do whatever she wants. She is a wonderful artist (although she would tell you otherwise). She is extremely intelligent. She is warm and sweet and has every quality you need to be successful in this world.

The one thing she doesn't have is the knowledge that there is truly something more out there that is within her reach.

When you come from a place that has not much to offer you don't know anything else.

In all my humility I have told her that she has the potential to be of Oprah status, and I don't say that lightly.

Her heart is enormous!

I want to give her the week of her life!

I want her to see the lights on Broadway. See a Broadway show and watch her sit there with her mouth wide open. Take her to the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Walk around the city handing out pizza to those who can't eat. I want to show her how nothing in unachievable.

She deserves it. And as much as she deserves it, so do the thousands of people who's hearts and lives I know this kid can change if she is given the chance.

This story is not about me. It is about her. Although I needed her just as much as she needed me,and we will always be sisters.

This is what "A Wish For A Sis" is all about.

If you have any questions please feel free to write to me and ask.

I will answer you as openly as I can without compromising her feelings and privacy.

I can tell you that I know this girl better than anyone, and I would give my life for her in a second if it meant that she would never have to feel another ounce of pain.

She is an amazing, sweet, loving person, whom I think the world of and if you knew her, you would probably be doing this yourself for her because she is that special!

I have met a lot of people in my life, but I have never met anyone like Bella.

Trust me when I tell you this girl was put on this Earth for very special reasons.

Thank you for reading such a long story, and believe it or not this is the short version....but I promise you this is just the beginning....