Tonight I kissed my brother goodbye.

from Holon - Friday, April 04, 2003
accessed 1634 times

My younger brother is a marine who is going off to the middle east.

Tonight I kissed my brother goodbye.
As I held him tight not wanting to let him go,I thought of every unkind word I had spoke and all the things I wish I could take back,but why does that seem so important now as I kiss my brother goodbye.
A naive young man he is,not really understanding why he has to go or what he might have to do in this stupid war.It's not right, he's too young I shouldnt have to kiss my brother goodbye.
He joined the marines to go to school,not to fight in a war.In a way it's his fault,so I guess I should be mad at him for putting us through this.But I dont speak of that now as I kiss my brother goodbye.
Squeezing him more I smell his sent wanting to hold that smell in my memory,I know this might be the last time I see him,and I guess I should be grateful that I have the chance to kiss my brother goodbye.
Maybe it might be easier if I believed in what he was fighting for,or even if he knew, or believed, in what he was fighting for but that's not how it is as I kiss my brother goodbye.
I dont think I realized just how much I love him till now. I told him to be safe and to come home,but I'm sure the lovedones of the people who have died said the same things to them,but what did that matter now,I thought, as I kissed my brother goodbye.
He walked out the door and into the van as I watched through the slats on the window I memorized his smile as I closed my eyes and whispered I love you Jonah,goodbye.