My brother walked onto the site last Tuesday. New hire, first day, hard hat still clean white.
I hadn't seen him in six years. He looked thinner. I probably looked older.
We didn't hug or make a scene. I showed him the panel boxes and told him which foreman to avoid after lunch.
That night I opened the nightstand drawer, the one I keep meaning to clean out. His hospital bracelet was still there, from when he was eight. Ruptured appendix, three weeks in pediatric ICU.
I'd worn it on my own wrist for a month after he got home. He thought that was the funniest thing in the world.
My work gloves are worn through at the thumb again. I keep buying the same cheap pair and meaning to upgrade.
I left the bracelet on the nightstand instead of putting it back. This morning at the site, he was struggling with a fitting and I walked over without thinking. He let me help. That was enough.