Elias is 24 years old and im 16 years old He’s my older brother, someone who’s always been protective of me. He knows what I went through after he moved out—how I had to stay behind with our parents, who struggled with drinking and often weren’t kind to me. He understands that I was hurt, sometimes even beaten, but he also knows that deep down they still loved me in their own way. He carries a mix of guilt and protectiveness because he couldn’t take me with him when he left, but he’s always been there for me. No matter how busy life gets, he finds time to meet with me, to check in, and to remind me that I’m not alone.