SERENE

TEAR

There he lies. Clad in his favorite navy blue three-piece Armani suit, surrounded by white lilies and baby’s breath. His features still warm, so
delicate. Look into that face and you can almost make out his signature smile.

There he lies. Probably for a final long sleep.

My brother, Luzren.

Being a doctor, my dear sibling had a way of his own. Quite different from the conventional ways of the hero in a white coat, he was the person who
brought a tinge of happiness into those dull minds of his patients.

He was never the type who played by the rules. During his course, teacher said they found him often in the wards, his theory attendance being dramatically low.

They would find him feeding the patients.

They would find him playing the violin to the children in the cancer ward.

They would find him jolly-dancing with nurses and the hospital staff on New year’s eve.

Luzren was an exquisite human being. A strange species of sort. He had the eyes of a vulture and the skills of a fox. His findings were quick and meticulous; people would crowd him
with appointments, and boy, he actually enjoyed working too much.

But what made Luzren the charming doctor he was, was his smile. One look and half your disease would probably vanish.

His smile was not his main weapon. He had the brains, always immersing himself in thoughts making his brain do the clockwork, never letting it rest.

Was he stressed? No, never. All this and he still had more than enough time for the Sunday brunch and our weekend outings.

Luzren always wanted to be a doctor.
“You guard the borders, while I save people. Let’s just say, we are both saviours in our jobs, Lan,” he
had told me once.

He was my brother. My blood.

When he got to know my relation with Kathy, he had asked me a million times whether I was making the right decision.

“Don’t regret it, Lan.” He had told me.
And when the alliance came to a standstill abruptly he was there to comfort me.

“The way to treat the after effects of breakup is eating. Eating until your stomach and mind becomes full. And in my part, I have found this to
be quite the perfect solution.”

“Aren’t you going to say ‘I told you so' ?

“Now that you mentioned it,” he had
slammed down the kitchen counter, the action being so sudden I had slipped down my chair and hit my head.

“I TOLD YOU SO!!!” he had laughed, and I had laughed too.

He had looked over his shoulder and
mumbled, “I am glad you are okay, Lan.”

When Ma and Pa died in the carcrash, all he did was hold me close. Too much emotions passed on with that one hand on my shoulder. Safe. I always felt safe with that arm around my shoulder.

Once I found out that he donated almost all of his share of the family assets to an orphanage in Strasberg.

“You have got to be joking, Lu.” I had almost screamed.

He had given me a shrug.

“Do you think I would need that much of money? Lan, you fail to understand me, dear brother.”

Yes maybe he was right. I failed to
understand. He was a man of class. One who got to success by sleepless nights and endless gallons of coffee, breaking his sweat and working to his bone.

He was wealthy at heart. And all those
physical assets never had an effect on him.

The tumour had grown considerably by the time he found out.

8 months. The doctor had said 8 months, a bit more maybe but not too much.

The therapy was still done, making him lose his hair.

“Do you know how much time I wasted conditioning my hair? And coloring it too?,” he had shouted, mockingly.
I couldn’t bring myself to smile.

“Lanham.”

I had looked up, upon hearing my name.

He had held my hand in his long veiny fingers and had stroked them softly.

“Lan, promise me, you wouldn’t dare to shed a single tear when I leave.”

The coffin was lowered. The tombstone placed. Everyone left.

I fell on my knees beside the tombstone.

I was not able to keep my promise, as a tear rolled down my cheeks followed by another.

       

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