8. Like an older brother

"I cried so many times in your arms that I lost count, you always supported me, I always had you with me." 

-Thalia
 

April 30th, 2010

I feel like they take one of my braids and I roll my eyes. It's Max.

"Hi beautiful." He kisses my cheek and sits next to me.

"Are you done teasing Charlotte?" I look at him.

"You offend me." He feigns indignation and laughs. "If you ask me, this time it wasn't me."

We both laugh and I know it's not true, he's an imp who loves to do mischief.

"Charlotte is annoying, at some point I have to charge her for what she does to me."

"I already know it." I sigh. "I'll have to put up with her tantrums."

"You know you're counting on me baby."

"I know."

He is the only one who is capable of teasing me and hugging me without pushing him away.
 

August 17th, 2016

Max still has a bad habit of pulling my hair and that is annoying, even more so now that I have short hair.

"Did you call Maggie to come over?"

"No, Max! Why don't you call her?" I am exasperated.

"She's your friend." He defends himself. "If you call her, I'll call Jake to see if he can fix your bad mood."

I roll my eyes in annoyance, I remain silent, partly I am very sad, and my eyes fill with tears.

"Hey, don't be like that, sorry baby." He hugs me, letting me wet his shirt with my tears, while stroking my hair. "How much I wish to take away the pain Tali, I would give my life for yours if necessary."

What he says does not console me, my disease has become more developed and it may be a matter of time before I die.

"Promise me you won't tell Jake. I don't want him to know about my love for him."

"What you ask me is tough Tali. Give him the opportunity to choose."

"If I give him the opportunity, he will fight for me, I will want to fight and I will die clinging to something that no longer belongs to me."

He stays quiet, I know all his emotions are scattered, battling each other.

"Sometimes I want to hate you because your words hurt me, but I think about it again and I understand what you say. I won't tell him anything."

"Thanks, Max." He wraps me in his arms, and I feel at peace, but I realize that I will miss them very much.
 

August 20th, 2016

Max Winter:

Even when I was crying and angry, you were always there for me. Most of my life I was asking for a brother that I already had, however, I didn't realize it until it was too late. I love Toby, he is my little baby, but you were the big brother who picked me up every time I fell.

I remember that time, I scraped my knees when I fell off the swing; you were with me cleaning my tears and wounds.

You kept my secrets until the last day of my life.

You, Charlotte and I grew up together as brothers, I did not value them as such and now that it is late, I regret it.

I have commissioned everyone from Toby, you will not be the exception. Please take care of him so he doesn't get into trouble and is a good boy.

I also remember all the times you came out of college to hold my hands during chemotherapy. I will never forget that.

I want you to be that great architect that you always told me you would be. Remember you said when you were ready you would build a tree house for me? Well now you will do it for Toby.

Don't do the same as me, go get Maggie; She and you are meant for each other, nothing would make me happier than you and Maggie give each other a chance.

I'm very sorry to make you keep secrets that I know you didn't want to keep but it was the best for him. Also forgive me if I ever offended or hurt you, I swear it was not my intention. Thank you for all those beautiful moments at the lake, on excursions, in shops and at games (you don't know how safe I felt by your side), thanks also for hitting every boy who made me cry since I was in the primary school. You were always there to defend me.

You will be great; I will be from above supporting you all the way.

We always looked at the stars together, now I want you to do it so that whenever you see them you feel me in your heart, which is where I will always be.

I am and will always be proud of you, Max.

For my older brother, his little one:

Thalia.
 

I put the letter away and smile, every day I have less strength, but I feel calmer because the letters are almost ready, all I ask of God is a little more strength to finish them.

My cell phone rings, and I know it's Max, he sent me a picture of him with Maggie and Elliot.

They are in a museum looking at the art of famous architects. I smile when I notice his happiness because that makes me even happier. I get a lot of photos and videos of them showing me the things that interest them.

That is my older brother Max, and he is an amazing boy.