Brothers on the spectrum
Erhi Agbeyi
United Kingdom
Alana has always amazed me. His autism doesn’t hold him back in school; if anything, it seems to sharpen his mind. He learns quickly, speaks with confidence, and sometimes it feels like his mind is a puzzle that only he knows how to solve.
My story is different. Like Alana, I am also autistic, but my place on the spectrum is not the same as his. I don’t grasp things in school as easily as he does. Sometimes that makes me feel less intelligent, but then I remind myself: we are not meant to be the same. I have my own gifts—gifts I’m proud of.
I love cycling. I love swimming. When I’m moving through the water or racing on my bike, I feel free, powerful, and capable of anything. One of my biggest dreams is to one day compete in the Olympics, to show the world what I can do.
But whenever I worry that no one will notice me, Alana is there. He looks at me and says, “Adana, don’t worry if the world doesn’t see you. I see you. And I know that even with your disabilities, you carry a different ability.”
That’s Alana. My brother. My best friend. My protector. When classmates try to make fun of me, he stands up without hesitation. He treats me with dignity, never pity. To me, he feels less like a brother and more like a guardian angel.
And I’ve come to realize something important: those who have brothers or sisters truly have a treasure more valuable than money could ever buy.
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Comments:
Oluwole: This is quite relatable. my immediate elder sister is only 1 year and 3 Months older than me so this gave more like a twin sister who is always available to defend me during growing up days.
Indeed those who have brothers or sisters truly have a treasure more valuable than money could ever buy.
Nice read!