This week is Storytelling Week (2nd – 8th February 2026), and today we’re sharing something special: a beautifully imaginative story written by a sibling who lost their sister. Their piece is personal, powerful and creative and we feel honoured to be able to share it.
Before we share their story, we spoke to Holly, our Siblings Team Worker, about why storytelling plays such a vital role in the support we offer to siblings at Helen & Douglas House.
Why storytelling matters for siblings
For many young people, the experiences they’ve lived through are big. They can be layered, complex, emotional and often too overwhelming to describe directly at first. That’s where storytelling becomes such a meaningful tool.
Fiction gives children and teenagers a safe space to explore what has happened in their lives while staying connected to the truth of their story. Through characters, metaphors and imagination, they can begin to make sense of experiences that may otherwise feel too too heavy to hold.
As practitioners, we always use open, clear and honest language when talking about the realities of life. But we also understand that young people naturally express their deepest feelings through magic, symbolism and make‑believe. A fictional story can hold emotions they might not yet have words for. It creates just enough distance for them to look at their own experiences with gentleness, perspective and understanding.
A siblings story
The story we’re sharing is fictional in tone but grounded in a sibling’s real‑life experiences. It reflects their own understanding, their own voice, and their unique way of transforming something incredibly hard into something meaningful – even hopeful. This kind of creative writing can be healing.
For this young person, their open understanding of their family’s story meant that visualising it in a more ‘magical’ way wasn’t a way of escaping the truth it was a way of making sense of it. A way of owning it. And the result is a beautiful piece of writing.
A huge part of what we do in the Sibling Team is supporting young people to build a story of their experiences that makes sense. Clear language, open conversations and honesty all play a part in helping them understand what they have been through. When that foundation is strong, creativity can become a powerful companion to healing.
Samantha the beautiful and kind
Below is the story written by a sibling: