My Built-in Best Friend
My younger brother, Cameron, and I are twenty-one months apart. For a while, it seemed like those twenty-one months were a million miles apart and we were nothing alike. Cameron loved to be outside, hated music, was the pickiest eater, and above all, he was the family favorite. I used to envy him immensely – he picked up any skill, any sport, with complete ease.
Living in a family full of “babies” I felt as if none of them understood me. Both of my parents are the youngest of three kids and my brother, is the youngest of two. It felt as if they didn’t understand what it felt like to be the oldest sibling. I always had to share my food, toys, books, everything. Sure, when we were little we were close, and I mean really little. As I got older my patience grew thinner. When I finally reached my preteen years, I was an absolute monster to my little brother. I would scream at him if he even set foot in my room or touched my things. I even got mad if he breathed too loud. But one day, it all changed.
I was around thirteen or fourteen when I started to realize all of the things I used to hate about Cam were the things that made him special. I started to admire how he was never scared to try anything. I was proud that he learned to ride a bike without training wheels at four years old, and even if he hated music, I cherish the memories of us dancing and bouncing around the kitchen when we were younger, without a clue in the world that we were totally off the beat of the music. I even got a laugh watching him eat food that my mom made him try, which we all knew he would hate.
Yes, I used to hate when he took and touched my things, but I also remember why he would creep into my room at night and steal loads of Dr. Seuss books from my shelves - because he had trouble falling asleep. I realized that it wasn’t his fault I felt annoyed by all that he did because he just wanted to spend time with me. As we both progressed into our teen years, we became closer than ever. We started to share the same humor, style, and interests. He still loved being outside way more than I did, and he still was exceedingly more adventurous than I am, but now we wanted to share those adventures together. We have since hatched a plan that after we both graduate college, we want to travel the world together. Until then, we are reduced to sending each other travel life hacks and destination ideas on TikTok.
My current worry is wondering if our relationship will change and if we will grow apart when I leave for college later this year. We won’t be able to walk in each other’s rooms whenever we want, we can’t have family dinners that result in endless laughter, and we can’t go on food runs together. Even now, it’s starting to change. I’ve been so busy with the usual stresses of senior year like college applications, visits, homework, and a job, that I don’t have as much time for him anymore. I know that soon he will be in my shoes but the sooner we both grow up, the sooner our travel plans become a reality.
As the age gap shrinks, we get older, and I honestly can’t wait for the day that it feels as if it isn’t there at all. My brother truly is my best friend and the thought of my life without my built-in best friend well, I can’t even imagine it.
By Peyton Louie