Long Lost Brother
A Story Every Day in 2024 August 5th 218/366
When I was told my brother was still alive, I didn't believe it. It had taken me twenty years to get over him being gone; I had very mixed feelings about seeing him again. Excitement? Yes. Anticipation? Yes. But something new that I had never felt before: fear.
He'd been my world, my idol. Today's the day that I get to see him again. I visualise him in my head as we were; him, eighteen; me sixteen. He wanted to spread his wings and went abroad. This was in the days before mobile phones, and the internet was just a young thing. No insta-anything. We were still bound by power lines and wires, connected through hardware.
One day he was there and then poof! Like a magician's trick, he was gone. Nobody knew where. Not even lost in a jungle. He was in his hotel room and then, he never came down for breakfast.
This was the most distressing time in my whole life. I felt like I'd been split in two, like a fissure had appeared, and I tried to knit it back together with friendships and girlfriends but they were like rickety rope bridges, swaying and easily broken. Nothing could fill the gap. I was lost, wayward, depressed.
And then he reappeared. He'd had amnesia for twenty years. Twenty years! He had no idea who he was. None! I can't get my head around it. How is it possible to forget everything that's gone before? I try not to be hurt by it but I can't help it. We were so close. I've read a lot about amnesia since - I understand it in principle - but, I don't know, I felt like we had a connection, linked inextricably through blood: brothers. I thought...I thought that nothing could break it. Nothing.
I'm tired. I'm sitting here, cappuccino untouched. Dry mouthed. Jittery legs. Nervous.
Scared.
He'll recognise me - we've shared pictures - but what if he doesn't know me? I couldn't bear it. I want to run. God, help me! I want to run.
The door is opening. I stand. I see him.
And the warmth of his arrival envelopes me as I weep.
***
366 words
Amnesia fascinates me so I thought I'd write a tale about it. I'm also a great fan of Long Lost Family so drew on many emotional episodes of that.
Thanks for stopping by! If you do read this, please do leave a comment as I love to interact with my readers.
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Comments (27)
How beautifully written, I absolutely love the metaphors you came up with, they make the reader feel like a part of the story👏☕
wow amazing
Well narrated! You utilized your words well; it gave me a great insight into the narrator's experience. Congrats on your top story; well-deserved!
I like the stream of thoughts as the narrator wrestles with all the emotions in anticipation. “like rickety rope bridges, swaying and easily broken” is a clever line, as rope is supposed to be strong and tough.
This is amazing. My heart was in my mouth reading it. I had a long lost cousin and had very similar feelings!
Great emotionally driven piece! Made for an excellent read!
Incredibly moving and beautifully written! Loved this piece ❤️
What a tragically beautiful story… it captures how dreadful it would be to experience.
Congratulations on bringing to life the nail-biting. And on Top Story. And on your polite but excellent take down of Sam Avery.
This was such an enticing story Rachel!!! Felt so captivated by the premiss as I am also very intrigued by amnesia!!! Congrats on Top Story Rachel!!!
Congratulations for top story! This was super heartfelt and hopeful. Also a very difficult topic.
This line in particular spoke to me: We were still bound by power lines and wires, connected through hardware. Excellent piece. I loved it! I don't say I loved something unless I did & this is magic I can see it in a novel!💘
I enjoyed it
I loved your narration.. top story..
Back to say congratulations on your Top Story! 🎉💖🎊🎉💖🎊
What a moving story and so well written. Congratulations on Top Story
Thank you for sharing such an intimate and heartfelt experience.
A moving tale of fraternal reunion, and a TS! Deftly done indeed!
congratulations on TS. fact is often stranger than fiction. My nephew-in-law came home from Nam, and found a job. One day, he left for work and no one saw him again for more than 20 years. A team of us were looking for him and finally found a man who we thought was him. In the meantime, his parents passed away and it was his uncle to drove the few hundred miles to see him. As soon as Richie opened the door, he said, "Uncle Tom?" Instant recognition. Richie had no idea where he was or why. Amnesia had settled in but the memory trigger was his favorite uncle. He packed his bags and came back with his uncle and married his girl who waited all those years for him. Sadly, Richie died two years later from complications of agent orange.. yes, this is all true.
Such a surge of hope at the end, it felt like a hug ☺
and I tried to knit it back together with friendships and girlfriends but they were like rickety rope bridges, swaying and easily broken… Love this description. So good. I used to love watching long lost family too. Oof. Felt like I was peeping over the main character’s shoulder. So good.
Yeah what if…. 😬that would be horrid. Great job, Rachel!
This got me thinking about how I'd react. Truth is, I don't know. Well done.
Perfectly crafted , love it
Wow! That would be intense! Well written, Rachel!