Breaking Free with my Brother

My mother confronted me with my secret lesbian romance and could not stop sobbing. I was isolated from my then  girlfriend, and filled with the terrible despair of one who is the cause for shame. I no longer laughed or smiled. I was filled with anger, shame, and sadness. My oldest brother, Art, took me immediately under his wing when no one else was comfortable enough to. He let me vent, cry, and express what I truly felt. He did not judge me or act weird around me.

To take my mind off of things, he took it upon himself to take me out driving places. We went to see movies, eat at vegan restaurants and talk about my plans for college and so on. We discussed our need to save the world and our need to spread our artistic views across the globe. During every car ride, he would play this song for me. He told me to be proud of who I was, no matter what happens and what choices I make. I hadeveryright to break free from my mom's closed views of my sexuality. I had every right to miss my girlfriend. In spite of all my sadness, these car rides were a release and a reminder that I was going to move on in life, from high school to college, from childhood to adulthood. I felt unbelievably safe and free. Although I will never admit to him, my brother saved my life.

He moved out of the house weeks later. Whenever I hear this song, I think of those car rides and discussions, and I call him to see how he's doing. He made the roughest patch in my life more pleasant than it would have been.