Brother

He was born and I didn't realize how much he'd change my life

He died and I've realized I'll never be the same

I look through pictures, 

flashbacks of memories, 

laughing at us

We were ridiculous, such silly kids 

Always cooking up some scheme or another

However, whenever an experiment went south

I bailed and let him take the blame

Being a year and half apart 

I really wasn't the wise older sister,

But I was his conscience quite often

Mostly telling him what to do

But he was still one of my best friends

We called him Kolbs

Or Kolbster

Or Knucklehead

Or Dudester

Or Broseph

(He had a lot of nicknames, now that I think about it!)

He and I…we clicked, ya know?

I'd say we were both sensitive souls, 

aware of more than what was on the surface

We were empathetic and thoughtful,

but we were pretty extroverted 

loved being around and loving on people

I feel like we laughed easily

(he could make you laugh without even trying)

High school was when we synced the best

we had the same friends and the same classes

He was smart, that boy

He was meant for big things

We started pulling apart the last year of college

both struggling with where we fit in this big world

It was rough, trying to stay connected

We grew up together,

but it was time to find ourselves

it was time to let go

When he left this world

I did let go

I realized that he'd done 

what he'd set out to do

He'd made many, many people laugh

He'd loved so, so many people

That brother of mine, well,

I'll see in Heaven someday

And when I do, 

I'll give him the biggest hug

And tell him

"Thanks, Kolbs, you changed my life."

(that's our friend, Nick, photobombing like a boss)