"Are you okay kiddo?" Dennis asked as he sat beside his little brother Mark.
"I'm okay" he replied still looking down,
" You don't look okay kiddo, alright tell me what's wrong" Dennis continued with the hope of cheering mark up.
"It's nothing bro, I'm fine," he said looking at Dennis for a few seconds before looking away.
Dennis knew his brother was not happy, something must have happened at school that caused him to react this way, he thought.
So, he moved closer to Mark, and wrapped his left arm around Mark, pulling him close to himself while resting his head on his chest.
"Hey, you know how I know you're sad, it's because I've been your brother long enough to know when you're hurting, when you're in pains, and to know when you're happy..." He said, trying to get Mark to open up.
He continued
"Remember when we went camping in the GREAT WILD?"
"Yeah " Mark replied "but that was just our backyard"
"I know," Dennis said " but it felt real enough to put a smile on your face back then, cause you would be moving around our tiny "backyard camp" mark sure that everyone was okay. The great outdoor adventurer is what you called yourself, as you played and danced, laughed and giggled away never let any moment pass you by, that even when you stubbed your toe and it was bleeding hard and you were in pains, you still didn't stop having fun..."
He paused to take a quick look at his brother who now had tears in his eyes.
"Mark, you are a warrior, you are strong, don't let anyone tell you otherwise. I have watched you grow into this strong person you are today, always letting your smile lead your way, always laughing and the face of danger, bravery is your second nature, your smile is your power, your happiness is your gift. Share it with the world and smile as you do it.."
"But you're not coming back !.." mark interrupted as his eyes watered and his voice became shaky.
"You're not coming back, you're my only family and you're not coming back.." he cried.
Dennis paused as they both stared Into the far distance with Mark still in tears, I guess he never thought of it, ... his day of reckoning was coming.
He had always been advised by his parents when they were alive that smoking kills, and the cigarette packet also advised him saying smokers are liable to die young. But he never listened, he never cared, now he's paying the price.
He took another long look at Mark before standing up, and with his back turned to him, he said,
"don't be like me, be better, keep smiling, keep living"
He took one step forward and finally said
' I'm sorry bro..' as he walked away.
Three months later Dennis died of lungs cancer, while mark continued to live with his aunt who treated him like family, he went to school and finally graduated from the University of California.
He honored the memory of his father, mother, and brother by being great. Never forgetting the last words of his brother as he forged his way through life.
