Brothers

We have fought our whole lives. All the way through middle school it was a battle of siblings. Many ending in bloody noses, bruised ribs, and then tears. We could fight but never stay angry at each other, especially when the majority of the time the catalyst of it all was forgotten in the midst of the battle. We have aged since those days though and settled that we will never really agree with each other, two polar opposites with no magnetic connection. It works out the way it is, we hang out with the same friends but even in the crowd there is little connection, few words exchanged and only when necessary. Many assume because of or close proximity we have a close relationship but that is hardly true. We are more like a divorced couple working things out for the sake of the kids. I know what irritates him and he knows what irritates me, avoiding each for our own well being.

Miles away now, he is at college and in the three months of his absence in my life I have talked to him three times, each for little more than 10 minutes. I awkwardly pause when asked if I miss my brother. Most people think it's funny when I say no, but it's hard to laugh when it rips you apart. The chance of us building a great friendship now is slim as even a hug after graduation was awkward. Leaving for college we both walked past each other with a quick "see ya." Just another day disregarding that over 300 miles would separate us for the next three months. We have both kept on moving with our lives and have impacted little in each other.

And yet, upon his first return home after 3 months, things seem to be different. The distance that separated us previously, drew us together. We can talk now and it does not seem so fake anymore. Though those years of regret still linger over our relationship and may have left it permanently damaged. A void of seventeen years, void that can never be filled.

- David Hooper '11