To Michael.

My boyfriend sleeping soundly on my lap, I stared in awe at the person that sat before me. He was perched casually on the torn floral sofa, a soda in his hand, and he spoke. He talked firstly of memories, of times that have long since past, but will never be forgotten. Then he spoke of the present, and issues that plague our very lives and the world at large. Later, he shifted into a very inspirational speech about the future, and how the world and people could change in our lifetime and the many lifetimes to come. I listened intently, hanging on every word like a young child engrossed in the words of a heroine. 

We sat like this for about an hour and a half, just conversing back and forth. Simple yes…but a very profound event to have occurred. Not once did I have the desire to correct him, to exert any form of dominance over the conversation. I merely listened.

It didn’t occur to me until well after the conversation the magnitude of what had taken place. In that mundane fraction of time, I realized that we were equal adults. I was always older and controlling…had always believed myself to be right, and had always governed our encounters…but not this time.

I looked at my brother in a completely different light that day. And more importantly, I looked at our past with clear sight. He had consistently been there for me, protecting me and taking care of me, and I wish that I could say the same for myself. Being the oldest child, and frankly also being “me”, I don’t believe that I have made enough of an effort with him. For most of my life, I have viewed him as simply being a “brother”, and never realized that he could truly be my friend.

Being alone in this house together for three days has made us closer. And I will work very hard to keep it that way (and I know he will)…

“We came into the world like brother and sister; And now let's go hand in hand, not one before another.” -William Shakespeare