The last goodbye, but not our last hello

                    I Remember that phone call, when you said you were going out and you really wanted me to go out to hang out with you that night. I was downstairs doing wash and we were having a nice conversation, about going out. The night that we went out was January 28th of 2012, our friend Julie picked me up, and we headed to the bar to meet you. When we got there, we took the seats behind you, as  you sat there and ate. As we settled in, it didn’t take long until I moved over to the table you were sitting at, and took the seat next to you, as we sat together. We talked about mom, Blake, and family in general, we had a few drinks, talked, laughed and had a blast! You had  smile on your face like I’ve never seen on you the thirty one years I’ve known you. Your smile was so bright that it lit up the bar room! The band was playing, it was loud, but we didn’t care, as we stood there talking and have the best time a sister could have with her baby brother. Then we heard the band start playing “Come Together” by the Beatles, as the band was singing, we stood at the table side by side and danced and sang to the song. Still smiling as bright as ever, and enjoying every minute with my brother, and as I stood there, I felt you come up from behind me, and I felt the biggest, tightest hug, I’ve ever felt, as you gave me that hug, someone snapped a photo, and then another photo of us. Memories that will always be with me and in my heart. I look at these photos and can still feel that big, tight hug, the warmth from your arms wrapped around me, and the softness of your hands in mine, your smell, and your breath in my hair, as you stood behind me. The softness of your cheek against mine, and the brushing of your facial hair, as we drank our  last drinks, and our last shots. I was sad to see the night, slowly coming to a end, and almost time to part. As I was getting ready to go, I gave you a hug, and kissed your neck ever so gently, never knowing that it would be our last hug, last photo, last kiss, an all our other lasts. It may have been our last goodbye, but certainly not our last hello, for someday, when it’s my time to come home to where you are, it will then be our last hello. For now, you are with me wherever I go, for your spirit is in my heart, soul, and life, it walks beside me all the days. I know it to be true, you give me signs that you are near and dear, and I should never fear, as you protected me in body, as you do in spirit. My heart where you once were alive is shattered, and it can never be repaired, for you were my only baby brother, and the first man who won my heart, until we meet again and say our last hello.