I Forgive You

I Forgive You

By: Austin Kraft

Today was definitely different. I woke up this morning to a damp pillow and a dry throat. As I moaned and groaned to get out of bed to get a reaction out of you, there was nothing. That's when I remembered that last night mom took your temperature and you scammed her into thinking you were sick. So I guess today was your day off. I hopped in the shower and obnoxiously sang songs that you hate, just to try and get one satisfactory "Shut Up" out of you. But nothing. You were out like a light, the medicine that mom must've given you really made you pass out for the count. After eating breakfast by myself, I started to think about how talented you are. Though I'd never say it, I am proud to have you as my younger brother, damn I'd even say I'm jealous. After finishing the last bowl of your favorite cereal, I came back into our room to say goodbye.

"Goodbye Max, I'm going to school call me if you need me ok?"

I saw what I thought was your arms moving so I took it as a "Yeah Yeah, I'll see you later sucker!" I threw the house phone on your bed and started for the front door.

As I walked out to my car, I got an awful feeling that something was horribly wrong. I started my car and as the dashboard illuminated I realized the horrible feeling I had, was just that my cars gas light was on. Probably Jake again, damn jackass always takes my car to the liquor store. As I drove I chuckled thinking of the banter that we would be saying back and forth about Jake and how bad Mom downgraded. I mean sure, we're happy that she's happy, but dads never going to be replaced, I know you live by that for sure, that's why you wear his dog tags. You're so much like him, you're funny, you're smart, you put everyone before yourself and you're insanely talented when it comes to math. The one difference is that Dad was so depressed. You, however, you're the little ray of sunshine in the family now. That's why even though I pick on you, I protect you from drunk Jake. I know you don't let his words affect you, but what he says sometimes makes me just wanna knock his ass out.

As I passed your school, I smiled, This shithole isn't even close to your capability as a student. You should be in the Highschool with me, not this run down, fund lacking middle school. I would have dropped you off and you would've said some funny comment about how my girlfriend likes you more than me, but that wasn't there today. I didn't know how much I missed our banters back and forth until today... Thinking about it, You've never missed school. You loved it there, you said it was your heaven away from home, you're weird for that by the way. That's when it hit me that you're not faking it. You're actually sick.

I made it to school and immediately rushed to my last three classes of the day to let them know I was going to be absent. My 5th and 6th Period teacher was okay with it, however, when I walked into Mrs.Carson's Office she told me that if I missed class today that I wasn't going to play in the big game tomorrow. I knew you'd understand that I needed to stay so I did, I wasn't even going to tell you I was coming home, but then I forgot where you liked soup from. So I called the house phone.

*Ring*

*Ring*

*Ring*

*Ring*

The ringing continued for a solid 10 seconds until it sent me to voicemail. I knew that you wouldn't check the machine so I just hung up and took a guess. Chicken Noodle Soup from Bertha's Diner, the best there is. I knew you'd be excited to have me even bring you something home. I know how Jake called you overweight, but that dickhead didn't have to get rid of all our snacks.

The unanswered phone call kept making me more and more uneasy. I expected a call back by now. I checked my phone, the only notification was a text message from my girlfriend, Lindsey, saying "I'm so sorry, I love you."