Sleep is a state of deep vulnerability, and in stories of familial bonds, watching a sister sleep can represent a desire to protect her or a moment of reflection on her fragility. The sleeping figure, often a younger sibling, is portrayed as innocent, resting safely while the narrator (often an older brother or sister) deals with the pressures of the world, such as trauma or caretaking. This imagery often highlights the responsibility one feels for a sibling's safety, even when that safety is out of their control. Memory and Estrangement