Love and a Little Medicine

Love and a Little Medicine

I had always loved him, or so I thought. He was my brother; how could I not love him? I remember us playing silly games in the small hallway between our rooms. Games meant to determine who was better than the other. Being older than me, he always seemed to win. Unfortunately, time goes by quickly and we all get older.

About twelve years has passed since my brother and I have played silly games like we used to. He used to be the person I looked up to and wanted to be like. He was the one who would help me fix my problems. Now I cannot look up to him, but now I look down.

Sometimes it seems hard to love those who anger you. Somehow, my parents have learned to love him in spite of their anger. It was a year ago that they discovered the reason why my brother did not want to be a part of our family anymore. Eventually, he would not want to eat meals with us anymore, or have anything to do with us. My parents really began to notice a big change in their son, my cherished brother, a change in him which would change the rest of our lives.

My dad and I had talked about it many times on our way into town. The sorrow in my dad’s eyes was evident. Finally, my dad and I were convinced that my brother was a drug addict. Breaking the news to my mom was the worst thing that I have ever seen her go through. My parents and my brother decided the best way to handle the situation was to take him to a doctor to help him with his problem. It took a few months before he was finally “clean.” We thought our problems were over, but it was far from that.

The signs started showing again. My family was wary of them at first and thought we were just being paranoid, but they showed up again. It started again. He was not over his drug addiction, despite what everyone thought and hoped.

It has taken me so long to really understand what it means to love him. So many times it would have been so easy just to have taken my anger out on the one who had disappointed me. I have realized though that love is the only thing that will get him through this. My angry words may ruin our relationship. They will not fix anything. I believe that love, and a little medicine, are the only thing that will get him through this difficult and trying situation.