I cannot say I've learned anything life changing since my brother left. I learned that you can die young. I learned that I am stronger than I assumed. I made it through the year. As did my sister, my mom, and my dad.

I have no words to encompass how much I miss him. I cannot write into poetry the void I have felt since he left. But I can write that I never knew it was possible to miss someone so deeply, and know that they are not coming home.

As the poem in my signature says:
"I loved my friend
He went away from me
There's nothing more to say
The poem ends,
Soft as it began-
I loved my friend."

I will find the strength to let you go. I just need to miss you more first.