Today is the 44th anniversary of my baby brother’s passing. He was 9 when he transitioned, would have turned 53 this past October.

I don’t really have anything to say.

This is only the 8th year that I’ve been free of the intense pain of remembering him. It used to ache through and through, year after year.

I still remember him strong. Still miss his incredible smile and his silliness. But I know he took that pain.

I love him for that.