BROTHER 

By Eric Helmstetter

Chapter One 

The Last Cup of Coffee

The diner hadn't changed in thirty years.

The vinyl booths were still cracked. The coffee was still too strong. The waitress still called everyone "Honey."

Every Thursday morning at seven o'clock, Caleb Donovan sat in the same booth by the window.

He always ordered two coffees.

One was never touched.

Most people assumed it was habit.

It wasn't.

It was respect.

The bell above the front door jingled.

The waitress, Marlene, walked over carrying the pot.

"You expecting someone?" she asked, even though she already knew the answer.

Caleb smiled.

"I always am."

She poured fresh coffee into both mugs.

"You know..." she said softly, "most people would've stopped doing this by now."

Caleb looked at the empty seat across from him.

"I don't."

Marlene rested her hand on the table.

"You still talk to him?"

Caleb chuckled.

"More than I probably should."

She smiled.

"I think he'd like that."

Caleb nodded.

"So do I."

For several minutes he stared out the window before finally speaking—not to Marlene, but to the empty chair.

"You would've loved seeing the town now," he said quietly. "They finally finished rebuilding the old marina."

He laughed to himself.

"And yes...they still can't parallel park."

He could almost hear the familiar voice.

"You never could either."

Caleb smiled.

"Still making fun of me."

Across the room Marlene watched him with a gentle smile.

She'd never met the man Caleb spoke to.

But after all these years...

She felt like she knew him.

Chapter Two 

Brothers Aren't Always Born

Later that afternoon, Caleb stood in front of a group of new police recruits.

A young officer raised his hand.

"Sergeant Donovan?"

Caleb nodded.

"Yes?"

"Everyone says your old partner was legendary."

Caleb smiled.

"He'd hate hearing that."

The room laughed.

"What made him so good?" another recruit asked.

Caleb leaned against the desk.

"It wasn't because he was fearless."

"He was scared plenty of times."

The room became quiet.

"He just never let fear decide for him."

One recruit asked,

"Were you two friends before you became partners?"

Caleb shook his head.

"No."

"When did that happen?"

Caleb smiled.

"The first night one of us trusted the other with his life."

He paused.

"After that..."

"...we stopped being partners."

"We became brothers."

A recruit quietly asked,

"So losing him..."

Caleb looked toward the window.

"It felt like losing half of myself."

The room remained silent.

"But here's something nobody tells you."

He smiled.

"You don't lose everything."

The young officers listened carefully.

"You keep the lessons."

"You keep the laughter."

"You keep every piece of wisdom they handed you."

"And every time you choose courage over comfort..."

"...they're still walking beside you."

The recruits sat silently.

One finally spoke.

"So...he's still your partner."

Caleb smiled.

"Every shift."

Chapter Three 

The Other Side

Twenty-two years had passed.

Caleb's hair had turned gray.

Retirement suited him.

On a warm autumn afternoon, he sat on the porch with his granddaughter, Emma.

She picked up an old photograph from the table.

"Who's this?"

Caleb smiled immediately.

"My brother."

Emma looked confused.

"But Grandpa..."

"You only have one sister."

Caleb laughed.

"That's true."

"So why did you call him your brother?"

Caleb looked at the picture for a long moment.

"Because sometimes life gives you family."

"And sometimes..."

"...it gives you someone who chooses to stand beside you."

Emma traced the edge of the photograph.

"What was he like?"

Caleb smiled.

"He made everyone laugh."

"He could calm a room just by walking into it."

"He never let anyone fight alone."

Emma looked up.

"Do you still miss him?"

Caleb nodded.

"Every day."

"Does it still hurt?"

He smiled gently.

"Not the way it used to."

"What changed?"

Caleb looked toward the evening sky.

"I finally realized something."

"What?"

"I spent years wishing he could still be here."

Emma nodded.

"But then I started noticing..."

"I still make decisions because of things he taught me."

"I still laugh at jokes he'd have loved."

"I still help strangers because he would've."

Emma smiled.

"So he's still here."

Caleb nodded.

"Just differently."

Emma slipped her hand into his.

"Do you think you'll see him again?"

Caleb looked toward the horizon as the sun dipped lower.

"I do."

"What do you think you'll say?"

Caleb laughed.

"I probably won't get the chance."

"Why not?"

"Because he'll interrupt me."

Emma giggled.

"What will he say?"

Caleb smiled through tears.

"He'll probably look at me, shake his head, and say..."

"What took you so long?"

Both of them laughed.

Caleb folded the photograph and slipped it back into his shirt pocket.

The picture was old now.

Its edges were worn.

But the memories weren't.

As evening settled over the porch, Caleb closed his eyes for just a moment.

He could almost hear his friend's unmistakable laugh.

He could almost feel him standing beside him again.

Maybe that's what love does.

It refuses to end when a heartbeat does.

It simply changes where it lives.

And someday...

On the other side...

Two brothers would finish the conversation they had never really stopped having.

LYRICS

Brother, doesn't seem that long ago

Brother, you’re all I need cause you know

You’re my brother, you were my heart my home

and I still feel you deep down in my soul

Brother, all the memories kept inside

oh brother, I can feel you by my side

Brother, I'm gonna stay a while

Brother, wish you could see what I've got

I miss you brother, you’re on my mind- woooah

I’m gonna hug you brother on the other side

Brother, all the memories kept inside

Oh Brother, I can feel you by my side

Brother, you were so many things to me

Oh Brother, you've got wings and now you’re free

Brother, you didn't want to leave

Bother, you wouldn’t want me to grieve

Where are you brother, are you with friends and family

I know you’re gone but I still can’t believe