12

i walked off the field,
16 years old, totally expecting be back the following year,
but things don't always work out as expected.
and so, just like that, it was over.

he grew up watching me.
good, bad, whatever.
he was there, trying to match.
little does he realize just how far he surpassed my achievements.


i remember sitting there,
watching a team of little feet running around in circles,
but he always knew where he was going.
the feet grew bigger, the circles straightened out,
but he always seemed to be one step ahead of the curve.


as he grew up, the others got older, bigger, stronger,
suddenly more talented.
but he kept his cool,
he knew his time would come.
through a handful of coaches
and countless errors and losses,
he sat there, observed, studied, learned.

then, like i always knew would happen, his day came.
many, many days in fact.
years of waiting, years of frustration,
years of anticipation and years of hope.
he was in, he was a leader,
he was prepared and he was amazing.
he taught me to care about the game again.
he reminded me of all i love about it.
he asked my opinion, i gave my advice,
but i think he knew the answers all along.

so, yesterday, he played like he's played for so long.
like he was always meant to play.

he played hard. he played well. he lead.

he was challenged, he challenged back even more.

he played like anyone would want to. he dominated.

he played with heart, he played the right way.

he was thanked by coaches and parents.

he was hugged by his fellow teammates.

perhaps, most importantly to me, he made me proud.

proud to say that i'm his brother.

proud to say he was the best i've ever seen play the game.

sometimes things do work out as expected.

and just like that, it was over.