Dear Stanley [Watty's 2019. Completed]

Hospital

Wednesday, March 8th

Dear Stanley,

3 years ago, you were in the hospital. I was a 6th grader, you were a freshmen. You had gotten tackled while playing football, and it had done a great deal of damage to your leg. You were unconscious in the crisp white hospital bed, and even though it wasn't anything major, anything life threatening, I still weeped for you to wake up.

I hated seeing you in that bed with a cast around your leg. I hated seeing you helpless.

You are Stanley. My big brother. My hero. My savior.

You are anything but helpless.

My eyes were burning from the tears that streamed down my face. My black hair was oily and unwashed, flopping depressingly in front of my face.

Mom and Dad were sitting in the chairs beside me, waiting for their luminous star to awake. When I think about it now, Stanley, I realize that was one of many examples that showed how you were our sun. The one we gravitated around. The one that gave us light in our gloomy world.

When you finally did wake up, my heart jumped with glee. I was the first one to notice- I was always the first one to notice anything about you. I engulfed you in a hug. You had a sleepy smile on your face as you hugged me back with as much strength as you could muster. I remember you hissed when you saw the cast on your leg.

"I'm sorry about your leg Stanley." I whispered into your ear. Just by looking at you, I could tell you were mad about it. You were the type of person who wanted things to go your way. This injury... that was something you definitely didn't want.

You grimaced in reply. "It's not too bad, kid. Remember this, every battle scar you get is an addition to your strength. This broken leg- this just makes me a stronger person, a better football player." You gave me a small smile and ruffled my hair.

I was in awe of you then, in awe of your courage, of your wisdom. Stanley- out of all the memories I've created with you, that one is definitely one of my favorite.

Because those words seem to stay with me no matter what. They seem to give me a little bit of hope, a reason to look forward, even when everything is falling down.

Even when my brother has left me. Those words make me think that I'm getting stronger even when the pain is too unbearable. They make me believe the pain is for the better.

Even if it is all a lie, it's still a nice one.