Product of My Anxiety

b r o t h e r

To my brother Noah;

I am sorry.
I am so, so sorry.
You were played with and you got hurt.
But that's not why I'm sorry.
I'm sorry because you think it's your fault.
I'm sorry because you feel ashamed and stupid.

It's okay to feel like that.
It's okay to feel stupid and it's okay to feel like a fool.
But you do not have to feel that way.
You do not have to feel shame.

It's okay to be played.
It's okay to be hurt.
It's okay trust.
And it's okay to love.

I too loved once.
And I too got hurt.
But it's okay.
I learned from it.
I grew from it.
Now it's your turn.

You mustn't mourne over this to the point of straying off the path to recovery.
Look up.
You are not alone.
Recognize the moment and remember to learn from it.
You must learn from your moments of pain in order for these moments never to happen again.
You must get up and say "I will get through this."
You must believe you can get through this.

My dear brother, you have tought me to be strong.
You have believed in me when I failed to.
So now it is my turn to believe in you.
I will be here for you in your moments of doubt.
I will be here for you until the day my heart stops beating.