Between Bruises and Blooms

He doesn’t need magic,
only laughter.

He throws his hands into the air,
makes impossible faces,
becomes a one-boy circus
just because one little girl
is watching.

Gabby studies every move,
wide-eyed,
like she’s trying to memorize
the language of her brother’s happiness.

One day she’ll chase after him.
One day she’ll keep up.
One day she’ll probably steal his toys
and insist she did no such thing.

But today,
she simply watches.

And Theo,
without anyone asking him to,
turns ordinary minutes
into the greatest show on earth.

That is what big brothers do.

They teach joy
long before they teach words.