Cheerleader

It breaks my heart in the most wonderful and beautiful way to see my brother become my cheerleader.

For years, we were at odds. Odd siblings never seeming to get along.
Finally, we've fixed that. Somehow we mended the broken bridge as I helped to mend his broken heart.
And it seems we've kept this theme: strengthening our bond through personal adversities.
Typically, it's been me who plays counselor and doles out the helpful advice and kinds word.
I never mind doing it: I love helping my brother and making sure he's going through life smiling.
The fact that our sibling link grows is a sweet bonus, but I'm happy as long as he is.

This time, though, the story is different.
I was struggling, I was unhappy, I was torturing myself every minute of the day and replaying my mistakes.
And there, out of the blue, with perfect timing, my brother sends me a motivational comic about self-love.
It reminded me that people may not always be there for me when I need them and that that's okay.
It reminded me that I will always be there for me and that I'm my #1 supporter.
Then my brother reminded me that he's my #1 supporter too, then proceeded to make my day.

He cheered me up so quickly that I didn't have a moment to think - to think about how things have changed.
I used to give the kind words all the time, show him what it meant to be an incorrigible optimist.
Now he's beat me at my own game: he didn't hesitate to cheer me on and tell me that I would succeed.
There was no doubt in his mind that I would be okay and that I would get through this rough patch.

It breaks my heart in the best way to realize how much my big brother believes in me.
When the hell did he turn into this amazing cheerleader?