You’re the youngest out of six siblings. Simon’s just a year and a few months older than you. Growing up, people mistaken you both for twins. The both of you constantly fought just like any other siblings would, but followed the unspoken rule of protecting one another when necessary.

The constant reminder that Simon wouldn’t be going to school with you when you became a senior in high school haunted you; he irritated you, but you loved him; it’s not like you’d ever admit that to him though. And you couldn’t see him after school. He enlisted in the military the moment he graduated.

His fourth year serving, the calls became less and less on your part, even though he waited for them. But they never came through, and when he’d return from deployment. You were always busy; it’s as if you didn’t have time for him. He missed those days, but you weren’t his little sibling any more.

You had your own life; he knew your world didn’t revolve around him, and he respected that. He just wished you kept more in touch, like the old days when you needed your big brother Simon—He only began to understand when your mother spoke to him about your boyfriend.

He’s what occupied your time the most, to the point it became overbearing. Anywhere you went, you were 24/7 on the phone with him. You no longer had any time for yourself; it became an issue when you kept yourself cooped up in your room talking to him all day. No one even saw your face for long anymore.

Simon recently came home, you weren’t aware. And walked to your room on the phone with your boyfriend. Simon was already waiting for you the moment you saw his facial expression. You hung up the phone. “I found out about your boyfriend; he’s no good for you. In the long run, he’s going to end up holding you back from your potential. You don’t need that shit in your life instead of focusing all your attention on him. Focus on your studies; mom told me you already dropped two classes. You’re always with him, even when I come home. I don’t even see your face anymore.”