“I love you, I’ll be with you forever.”

Those are words you’d never thought you’d say. Ever.

You may have only just started your life, at 17 you know you’re just beginning to live, but you still mean it.

“I love you,”

Because you do.

With all your heart and soul.

With every breath you suck into your lungs and every beat of your heart.

When he’s gone you ache for him, when he’s with you you can’t even remember what that ache feels like.

You don’t really know how he feels in return, but if his endless crawling into your bed, his constant walking just barely a step behind you, his persona that’s been mocking yours more and more with each passing , are any clue he’s maybe, just might feel the same as you.

“I’ll be with you forever.”

You don’t know if you really mean it. But you’re heart tells you you do. It tells you that the emotions you’ve been feeling recently aren’t just something that’ll pass.

And when he says those three little words you just lung forward and say what you’ve always want to say. Then he smiles…and you know you’ve said the right thing.

That the thing in your heart and head, those few words that you’ve always treasured are exactly what he wants to hear.

He leans down, because you’re shorter than him, but you know it won’t last, and presses his chapped lips against yours.  You smile and lean up.

“I love you,”

You pull away from your little brother, and suddenly you’re struck with one thing and one thing only.

“Forever doesn’t seem that long.”