Bro,

I’ll never forget my first interaction with you. That first day of middle school, that first time riding the school bus, that first time I saw you with your bright red Angels cap and dark sunglasses — you were intimidating, quiet and serious. I was convinced you were too cool to want to be my friend.

Apparently you weren’t too cool to take the above photo of us fake-flashing a bay 8 years later.

We’ve never been much for talking deeply about every thought that goes through our head. Most of our time spent together involves competing in sports, making tons of joke references and watching something entertaining. Our time together is always the same: simple, relaxing and hilarious.

To anyone else, we’d probably just seem like two stupid friends that won’t stop laughing about something that nobody else gets. To anyone else, our relationship would seem superficial at best. But you and I know the truth without ever having to say it.

We’re brothers.

We rarely ever say it, but we both know it without a doubt. It’s a level of bonding where we don’t need to talk deeply for hours on end to understand each other. The moment we see each other, we already know what the other’s thinking. We know each other better by competing in sports, playing games and watching videos. We’ve spent so much time simply doing things together that we’ve learned how the other thinks. Our minds are on the same level, to the point where if we are ever on the same team for anything, we don’t have to say a word; we know exactly what the other is going to do.

These interactions have been the foundation of our friendship, and anybody who hasn't experienced it before just won’t understand how we have such a strong bond without constantly having deep conversations. Our experiences, not our words, have made our relationship as close as it is. There’s a complete trust in the other’s decisions and actions, whether that be in a basketball game, in going to events together or in giving effort to visit each other.

Of course, it’s not like we can’t talk to each other. We are always there for each other if we ever need to talk. If something important needs to be talked about, then it will just make its way into the conversation on its own without either of us having to force it. Every talk we have is natural, being whatever we need it to be for that moment. .

I don’t need to tell you that you’re my brother for you to know it’s true. I don’t need to tell you that I’d be there for you til the day I die. I don’t need to tell you that you’ve changed my life, bud.

But, here’s me doing it anyway.

I love you man, and I’ve always got your back.

Sincerely,

Your brother