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“Why is that?” he asked, curious

I felt ether Everyone but me You work hard, you make tier than me, and even she has a plan I couldn’t even think about having baby, but she’s so excited to expand your family” I tried not to sound jealous “Soether Soainst others If you asked o where I’d be now, I definitely wouldn’t have said ‘standing still,’ but that’s where I am Stuck in place, like a fly on sticky paper” I wasn’t explaining myself very well, so when Lev did not respond, I et it”

And when Lev spoke, it was off topic “I aent man”

Confusion swept over my features “Uh…”

“My IQ in nearly unmatched”

“Okay,” I uttered, unsure of where this was going

“Give me a sum, any sum I’ll find the answer And I’ll find it correctly”

I s way, brotherabout me”

“Would you agree that I’ent?”

This was a losing battle

I blew out, “Yes I would”

He put a gentle hand to my arm to stop me in my tracks, and when I stilled and he looked down at olden eyes that rarely saw all of as happening around him, he spoke eloquently, “And yet, in moments of madness, when my mind is overwhelmed with emotion, you have scraped me off the floor, fed me, and put me to bed on hundreds of occasions” He let that sink in My chest tightened as he went on “You have seenmen bloody” He paused “Now, I’ll ask you After all that, do you still think I’ent?”

My voice hisper-soft “Of course”

“As are you, whether you have your shit together or not” My brother didn’t always kno to express hi so on the inside We all have a dark spot that flares when ti is to pick your battles wisely, because winning each of them is impossible And every time you lose, because you will from time to time, take a moment and breathe” His hand slipped into mine, and it squeezed “Remember, you’re not alone”

I was stupidly close to crying

God He was soht

My lip treh my smile “See? Smart”