I don't say it enough, but my brothers are my backbone more often that I'd like to admit.

If I'm fighting with my parents, I turn to my brothers.

If I get a bad grade, I turn to my brothers.

If I need a late night burger run, I turn to my brothers.

I depend on my brothers for everything.

But I know that they also depend on me.

My brother, Nicolas, and I are only two years apart. Naturally, that meant we'd be eachother's built-in best friend for life. My other brother, George, is nine years younger than me and seven years younger than Nicolas. The bond is different, but Nick and I would do anything to protect him.

I love my brothers, more than life (when they're not getting on my nerves), but I never realized how lucky I am to have them by my side as often as I do.

Granted, Nick and I are in college so we're not around each other as often as we used to be, but I know he'd risk getting a speeding ticket to get me as fast as he could.

As for George, I know he looks forward to the weekends when Nick and I come home. Mainly Nick because he plays Xbox with him.

Last week, I saw my mom cry as she reunited with one of her brothers in Lebanon after two years of not seeing each other Every day since, I see her ask about him as soon as she wakes up to see if he's left for work or if he's stopped by. Tonight, I watched her cry when he hugged her and didn't let go. Next week, I'll see her cry when she reunites with another brother when he flies in from his job in Saudi Arabia. Then again in August when we go back to Texas, I'll see her smile to see her third brother knowing that he lives so close.

For lack of a better phrase, it sucks.

It sucks having the people you love most so far away from you all the damn time.

Lately, I've been seeing sibling love in more ways than one.

My little cousins, two brothers, stayed at my grandparents' house not too long ago. My grandma told me about their bedtime routine and how they pray together. They take turns praying and they don't interrupt each other. The older brother starts praying first and when he's done, he says "I love you, Jesus." His little brother replies with "He loves you too". Then the younger brother prays and when he's done he also says, "I love you, Jesus." To which his older brother replies with, "He loves you too".

I went to a pre-wedding party last week. The bride and a big group of people were taking a picture together. She had her older brother next to her and I noticed that during the chaos of organizing the picture, he kissed her on the cheek and hugged her for a while. It was a small gesture, but there's nothing like the reassurance and love from a sibling.

A couple of days ago, my family and I were having dinner. My younger brother, George wasn't feeling too well. Nicolas is still in Texas and won't be coming to Lebanon for a few more days. I told him how George wasn't feeling good and he insisted on letting me see him, to make sure he looked okay.

"To the outside world, we all grow old. But not to brothers and sisters. We know each other as we always were. We know each other's hearts. We share private family jokes. We remember family feuds and secrets, family griefs and joys. We live outside the touch of time."

My only hope is that my brothers and I always live outside the touch of time so that no matter how we're seen by the world, we remain true to each other.