He’s My Brother, I Love Him Deeply

Chapter 3 The Savior

During the year I was bullied, Brian was always the one protecting me every single time.

Whenever things got unbearable, whenever I felt helpless or trapped, he would show up just in time and stop whatever humiliating game they planned to play next.

Every time I looked up and saw him standing there, concern written all over his face, sweat dripping from his temples from running over so fast, my chest would ache.

I always lowered my eyes while he wrapped me in his arms and comforted me softly. "It's okay, Lena. Don't cry."

The people around us would instantly go silent.

My numb heart only started hurting again whenever he appeared. All my humiliation and pain turned into muffled sobs against his chest.

"B... Brian..."

My voice trembled weakly like a frightened kitten. For a second, I felt his body stiffen ever so slightly.

Then after a long silence, he sighed softly. "I'm here."

My feelings toward Brian were complicated.

The bullying existed because of him. But he was also the only person who ever pulled me out of the darkness.

Brian was the source of my suffering. And my only hope for salvation.

At some point, I realized I was sinking deeper and deeper into a swamp I couldn't escape.

Part of me wanted to give up, to just let myself drown. But every time I fell, someone would grab my hand and pull me back up.

Brian had gentle eyes. He was the only person willing to reach into the mud and drag me out.

He noticed how I kept avoiding him. But instead of getting angry, he only held me tighter and patted my back softly.

"Lena, don't be afraid of me. No matter what happens, I'll always protect you."

And for the first time in a long while, I finally cried out loud in his arms. Every bit of pain I'd buried for so long came pouring out all at once.

At that moment, I truly believed Brian was the best brother in the world.

After that, I became more and more attached to him. Because the closer I stayed to Brian, the safer I felt.

Nobody dared to act up in front of him. Bullying me, his little sister, was basically the same as humiliating him. At least, that's what I thought.

But when the bullying only got worse, more vicious, more relentless than before, I realized how wrong I was.

I once believed Brian was the only light in my hopeless life. Later, I realized he was just another endless abyss.

The abyss that destroyed everything I had.