Article August 29, 2005 Issue

MY JOURNEY WITH MY BROTHER

By Miranda Miller

Although my older brother, Andrew, was in prison last Christmas, we had the best visit I could have ever dreamed of. His whole demeanor was completely different. It was the first time in many years he seemed genuinely peaceful and happy. Instantly, I felt connected to him again. Looking back on this journey we have made together, I feel it has been the most valuable experience of my life.

When we were barely teenagers, my brother started getting into drugs, alcohol, and various other illegal activities that landed him in several different juvenile institutions. Whenever he was home, I wanted to leave because the atmosphere was so tense and unpredictable.

I was about 13 when my mom was offered a job in another state and we moved, leaving my brother behind because he was in a detention center. One day, as we were preparing to go, it hit me. The way I had been getting mad and frustrated with my brother did not reflect the unmovable love I had for him. My heart immediately softened. I went from feeling, "I hate living with him" to "I don't want to leave him."

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