“Stay,” I’d said. “You’re my brother. He’ll understand.” And so he stayed, and we laughed through our intoxication, listened to music, and for the most part we avoided the good ol’ days in favor of the here and now. And then we fell asleep on the sofa. At some point in the night I stirred, finding us too close to one another, finding him in my arms. I told myself it was in the spirit of being past brothers and now tentative friends, and only hoped if he woke he’d think so, too. Above all, I hoped he wouldn’t pull away from me.
