but for a reason that eludes what the eye can see.
Yes, traits passed on to each of the spawn are similar,
and cultural traditions sculpt our minds to be alike,
there is a kinship created in a way that is still not fully understood.
The most my brother and I have in common is not the bearer of us,
but she is, in fact, the impetus.
When a mother carries a child, stem cells and blood are shared, interchanged, to flow through both bodies.
The second offspring follows the same behavior, but is lucky enough to receive an extra gift:
the remnants of the first child have waited for another to come along to then be exchanged, so that the newborn is birthed with a part of their sibling inside of them.
My brother is not just in my life from day-to-day,
but he is a part of me everyday that my heart still beats.
We are not simply the same pieces of our parents mashed together differently,
but he
makes me.
He is me.
Maybe that's why he's so inclined to protect,
because I am a partial product of him.
I still remember the times I'd be in trouble,
and those gratefully heard words,
"Hey, what do you think you're doing to my brother?"
would be so sanctifying-
a sanctuary of comfort in which I could run to,
but never to run away, because he'd lead with bravery to places that needed conquering,
and he always wondered why I wanted to be like him.
One day, we were skating, not where we were supposed to be, of course-
miles away from home but that didn't stop us.
His strength, and my trust, enabled an experience so exciting that it had no other way to end than with the agreed statement,
"Don't tell mom."
Apart from a partner in crime, my brother was the beam to shine, more like blind, and distract, when the family always fought on holidays.
We'd elevate to a calmer existence upstairs,
and blare the newly discovered mixtape to tune out the tantalization.
There'd always be a pause, though,
so we could elaborate on how we'd never argue like that.
Yeah, we'd throw a few punches here and there, but always made each other laugh to hide the pain so no one got reprimanded.
As profound as I found my brother, no one is perfect.
Accepted, without a doubt, but not happily.
He is my hero with fatal flaws.
I see them everyday.
Never angered because of accidental actions,
but enraged, solely because I see so much of him in me,
and I hope his mistakes aren't imprinted into my moldable surface-
pleading that his mishaps are not foreshadowing curses,
and if so, wishing to walk along a new path,
because I will always try to learn from you.
You held me to higher standards than that of my peers.
You enlightened me to a future that's five years ahead so that I may be successfully prepared.
No matter how scarred, I will envision you as a masterpiece,
coming back from endless endeavors so elastically
practically solidified
my appreciative astonishment of the best part of me: you.