An essay reflecting on the author's relationship with her brother, who was quiet as a child and became almost mute after family tragedies (loss of sister and father to suicide). He now expresses himself primarily through instrumental music, which the author has learned to interpret as his unique language, contrasting with her own verbal expression and writing about their shared past.
I spoke for my brother when he was too afraid to answer — now, he speaks in melodies, and I have learned to listen
SocietySiblings
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TL;DR: Key points with love ❤️An essay reflecting on the author's relationship with her brother, who was quiet as a child and became almost mute after family tragedies (loss of sister and father to suicide). He now expresses himself primarily through instrumental music, which the author has learned to interpret as his unique language, contrasting with her own verbal expression and writing about their shared past.
- 1 Childhood: Brother barely spoke, author spoke for him.
- 2 Adolescence: Loss of sister and father to suicide (six years apart). Brother became almost mute, started learning guitar.
- 3 Years later: Author writes memoir 'Staying.'
- 4 Present: Brother speaks in melodies, author has learned to listen.
- The brother found a powerful means of expression through music
- The author gained a deeper understanding of her brother and their shared history
- The author learned to listen differently
What: The author reflects on her brother's lifelong quiet nature, his use of music as a form of expression, and her journey to understand his non-verbal communication, especially after family tragedies.
When: Childhood, adolescence, and present day.
Where: Not explicitly stated, implies a personal, familial setting.
Why: The brother's inherent quietness, compounded by trauma and grief from losing their sister and father to suicide, led him to express himself through music. The author's role evolved from speaking for him to learning to listen to his musical expression.
How: The brother learned guitar and used music to express 'the language of loss, the language of yearning.' The author learned to 'bite my tongue' and listen to his instrumental music, which conveys a vast vocabulary of moods and influences.