I'll never forget the day mum and dad brought Nathan home. It was exciting. I was going to be a big sister. Mum and dad had wanted another baby, but it was hard. Finally, when I was five, dad dropped me off at my aunt's house, while he and mum went to the hospital. I remember crying. I wanted to be there, to see my baby brother for the first time, dad had said, "I promise Kate, as soon as his born we will call, and aunty Jess will bring you straight to all of us" I smiled and kissed his cheek, and he was gone.
I sat on the lounge in the same spot for ages, long enough to fall asleep, my aunty woke me up. "Kate, daddy just called, lets go and meet your baby brother."
9:57pm on the 26th of August my best friend was born.
Nathan was the best baby brother anyone could ask for. By the time he was a week old he had already earned the role of best friend in my life. From the day he was born, i knew i wanted to protect him, protect him from everything, and everyone. Turns out i can't protect him from everything.
"Kate! Go and tell Nathan were leaving soon" mum yelled at me from down stairs. I walked into his room, and he was sitting on his bed, staring at the wall. "Nath, mum's taking you to the doctor soon." I sat next to him on the bed. He didn't move, it was like I wasn't there, he couldn't see me. Dad thought he might be deaf. Mum said he was stupid and that his just a typical three year old boy. I thought dad was right but, Nathan wouldn't talk, and I had a three year old cousin, and she talked to me all the time. Then I thought that maybe Nathan didn't like me, and that's why he wouldn't talk to me, but he didn't talk to mum and dad, and you have to love your parents.
"Nath" I said again, reaching out and placing my hand on his. He quickly pulled his hand away, I was convinced he hated me.
Mum walked up stairs and picked Nathan up to take him to the car, and he lost it. We were all use to Nathan's tantrums now, he was screaming and kicking as mum took him down stairs. "Nathan, why do you have to do this?" mum complained as she took him down stairs.
Dad decided we would cook dinner for mum and Nathan, it was fun, I love dad, his fun. We cooked homemade hamburgers and chips, we didnt cook a hamburger for Nathan, he didnt eat alot of foods, he would only eat the chips. Just as it was ready, mum and Nathan walked through the front door.
"Mummy, we cooked dinner!" I ran to her, excited of my accomplishment, and I stopped in the hallway, mum was crying, or had been, she was wiping her eyes. "That's awesome babe, can you take Nathan to get washed up for dinner then?" she kissed my cheek.
Nathan and I walked up stairs in silence, and we washed our hands.
"How was the doctors Nathan" I asked. He didn't say anything, he just watched the water go down the drain.
The next day mum and dad sat me down to talk.
"Sweetie, we need to talk about Nathan" my heart started pounding.
"What's wrong?" my voice was shaky.
Mum started crying, so dad answered me.
"He has Autism" dad said, squeezing mums hand. I was eight at the time, so I didn't understand it. What is Autism? What does it do to you? Was Nathan in pain?
"His just a little different to other kids, his still your little brother. He just thinks differently to everyone else." Everything was fine with my little brother but it wasn't, I was confused, but I smiled, and I looked into mum and dads eyes.
"I love Nathan, and I don't care if his different to everyone else, his still my brother, and mummy don't be sad, Nathan loves you too, and daddy. Its ok" I smiled.
Nathan had to go to dietitians, speech therpists and occupational therapist. We communicated with him mostly through pictures. Things were harder with Nathan, but it was worth it.
It was the middle of December, and we were getting ready to go to my nans house for a family lunch. Its my favourite day, in my whole existence, the day Nathan spoke.
"Kate, help your brother get dressed" Nathan was four now but still needed you to practically dress him, but I didn't mind helping.
"Let's get you dressed , I smiled at him as I walked in" he was different today, instead of ignoring me, he looked up. I lifted up his top, and put his new top on, and I poked his tummy, like I always did, and he smiled, I love my baby brothers smile, and I'll do anything to see it, so I poked him again, and he laughed, so I tackled him onto the bed, and started tickling him, he burst out in laughter, and I couldn't help laughing too. "what are you two doing?" mum stood in the door way with her arms crossed, she wasn't happy. "Sorry mum" I stood up and straightened my dress. Christmas time was stressful for mum, she felt like she had to do everything for everyone, and we had to spend time with family, no one judged Nathan on his disability, and no one judged mum, but she felt as if they did. "Were leaving soon, no time for playing around" Mum glared at me. I stared down at the ground.
"More Kate" a beautiful, angel like voice sounded behind me, I quickly looked up at mum, and she was as shocked as I was, tears streamed down her face, and she started calling out to dad. I turned around and tackled Nathan again, but this time I hugged him. My baby brother had finally spoke, I finally got to hear his voice, and he spoke to me, four years of silence, and finally, Nathan had spoken to me.
