B for Blithe
Dear little brother,
I have been meaning to write you this letter since you were 5, and here I am, finally getting around it. I hope you’d find this letter when you get older and have a sufficient English level. If you could read this, that means that you’ve acquired a very important skill that will help you along your journey.
As cheesy as this may sound, I want you to know that I love you. I want you to know how much you and your sisters are very dear to me. It is my responsibility before yours to maintain this integrity we have between each other so whatever happens, be forgiving and reach out to your siblings; they love you as much as I do, sometimes even more.
Your parents love you too. Your Dad, even if he doesn’t show it, loves us all more than anything. Your Mom treasures us more than anything. It’s just that, as kids and as teens, we tend to overlook this. That doesn’t mean that we’re ungrateful, it’s just that we’re only shown the tip of the iceberg in our parents' lives. Our little minds can’t fathom the amount of effort they are going through and they know that; they are our parents after all.
I’m aware I wasn’t very present in your childhood because of my studies. I know that I didn’t play a lot with you, that I didn’t spend a lot of time with you. I hope you don’t hold any grudges on me. I’m just a person playing this new role of brotherhood, trying my best.
We do have a lot in common. I can see myself in your gestures, in your quirks, in your attitude. I cannot decide whether I should be happy about it. I don’t want you to be me, no matter how you idolize me. I want you to be better, to learn from your mistakes and mine and, maybe one day, you’ll reproach me for the silly mistakes I still make.
Brother, I know I could blab about anything else and it would be more beneficial and interesting than what I’ve been talking about, but believe me, if there is any piece of advice, any tip I want to give to you, it would be in this letter.
Please stay on the right way, love your family, your friends, love life, love the world, and if you could, keep that inner child in you, the 8-year-old kid that annoys me with his questions.
Your not-so-special brother, Ahmed.
