Something happened between two brothers today.
The evil words of youthful pride and challenge
"I'll Kill You",
which are often spoken in empty jest or sport, were today made real.
I try to comprehend that much anger, directed at someone so close for so long.
The only answer, perhaps comfort, and advice I can give would be an example of what brotherhood has meant to me over the years.
I have 4 brothers.
We are as diverse and similar as any sibling troupe alive. We played, pranked, prayed, pushed, and applauded together and for each other, but I don't recall ever threats to kill.
Don't get me wrong, there were moments when the prank went too far and empty threats of just retribution were tossed, (more often than not at me, Sorry little brother), but to allow fratricide to dig it's repulsive twisted roots into a conscious legitimate word, never.
There was a weak and dangerous period of my life when many, hell most brothers would have written me off or felt the need to juxtapose their life experiences into my ignorance and sermonize me into the grave, but each of them received me as I was.
With kind and generous patience they valued my company, remembered their allegiance, and held up the light that ultimately led me home.
Were it not for the bonds carved deep into the earthen walls of an imaginary fortress in the cemetery fields behind our boyhood home, or pushing up a mountain trail to first time visions of a world far greater than us, or following a name into high school few could match with pride and fame, another victim may have fed the darkness.
Let it be said, in writing this day, the words that are hardest to say to a brother face to face,
I love you my brothers.
You are majestic examples of what brothers should be.
I wish our brand of brotherhood were true for all the hosts of mortal men, then something would not have happened between two brothers today.
Go to sleep my boys, and dream of the boys I knew when they were young.
-Hermit King-
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