My baby brother,

You are the kindest soul I have ever encountered. You are wise beyond your years, selfless, and have such a precious heart. Your capacity and depth of emotion is astounding, and you strive to make me a better person every single day. You give me purpose, you give me life, you are my greatest gift I have ever been given. You've always been my #1 man. There is no one in this world that compares to you. I am so proud of the man you've become and the man you've yet to be.

We've been through a lot, you and I. We've had normal childhood experiences and we've fought like cats and dogs. There was a time where I was sure that I didn't even like you, even though I couldn't fathom feeling that way now. We've also had not-so-normal childhood experiences that could have broken us. They could have torn us down and made us nothing, but they didn't. They made us strong and worthy. To me, that's only because I had you. I can do anything in this life knowing I will always have you. I strive to be the greatest sister I can be, and I can only hope I've withheld that title to your highest expectations. I hope that I've taught you everything you'll ever need, I hope that it's of value to you, and I hope that you'll still come to me when you're stuck. There isn't a thing in this world I wouldn't do for you. You've taught me so much you probably aren't even aware of and I couldn't be more grateful.

I'm getting married now, and as much as that changes everything, it almost doesn't change a thing. I've found the person who chooses me everyday, and who loves me fearlessly. The person who wants to build with me and help me when I'm tired. We're gonna make this beautiful life together, and go on this crazy journey hand-in-hand. Maybe we'll move away, or I'll convince him to go visit Africa, or maybe we'll have a baby one day. No matter what we face, he's ready to do it together; he's gonna take good care of me. He's not here to relieve you, but to take some of the weight off your shoulders. I know I'm a bit of a handful sometimes, but that doesn't change the fact that you're my #1 or that you give me life or purpose. My connection to you is so deeply rooted and nothing or no one will ever change that.

Before I go on this crazy grown-up journey, I do have one favor to ask. One of those not-so-normal childhood experiences entailed losing our Dad. While I don't know what it's like for you, as a someone's son, to lose their dad, I do know what it's like for the role of someone's daughter. It's every little girl's dream to have her daddy walk her down the aisle, to give a father-daughter dance. I don't get that now and that makes me feel empty. What is supposed to be the happiest day of my life has a bit of overcast, and there's only one bit of sunshine who can change that. That's you. I need you now more than ever. I need you to be this person for me and make my dreams salvageable. Although these are some big shoes to fill, I know you will do it effortlessly. You are more of Dad than Dad was. You have all his little isms, facial expressions, and the hugs almost seem like they're exactly the same. I would be honored for you to walk me down the aisle.

I know it may or may not be a big deal to you and that's okay. Maybe you see it as getting me from point A to point B without letting me slip and fall. I hope I've helped you to understand that it's so much more than that, and I hope you maybe understand a sliver of how important you are to me. You and Dad's sister are handing me over to my new forever with a seal of approval from not only yourselves, but from him too. So maybe you are taking me from point A to point B without letting me slip and fall in a deeper sense, but hey, that's what siblings are for. You will always be my baby brother and I will always love you with every ounce of me.