However, my brother slides right between my arms and hugs me for the first time since that night eight years ago.
He breathes shakily against my shoulder, his hands pressing me so tightly that it actually hurts. But I must be hurting him, too.
“I love you, little bro,” he whispers. “I need you to know that. I need you to know you’re the first person I loved unconditionally and always will. I might annoy you, might act like a dick to get your attention, but that’s only because the thought of losing you scares the living fuck out of me.”