Little Brother

We grew up in a little house, in a little town, in the middle of nowhere. Close in age, close in tastes, close in our bunk beds. We left that house, we left that town, we left that life. Age established differences, friends established differences, life established differences. We grew apart, we stayed together, we were blood.

I remember the day I said goodbye, he still seemed so young. I started life on my own and left him, alone. For the better, I'm sure, I wasn't a role model. I thought about him often. He seemed so focused, so committed. Why couldn't I be like that? I looked up to him.

We stayed in touch, we talked infrequently, we were never apart. Separated by miles, separated in our choices, separated by lifestyles. We visited, we laughed, we loved.

One day, I lost my way in life. I remember talking to him on the phone, he was giving me advice. It was supposed to be the other way around. I listened, I learned, I grew.

Life brought us back together, life had taken its toll, life went on. He had grown, he was wise, he was always there. We have children, we have wives, we have each other.

For years I have watched him mature, he had become a man. I was sometimes envious, he has accomplished so much. I was finally there when he received his doctorate, what an accomplishment. I watched him walk away.

He held his head high, he held his wife close, he had done it. There goes another chapter, there goes my friend...there goes my little brother.