I wanted them to find a “cure” for my brother, but it seemed like there wasn’t one

There are different kinds of sicknesses, but I don’t mean like the flu and strep throat. I mean that some sicknesses are in the body and have physical signs like fever or a sore throat. Other sicknesses are emotional, and affect the sick person’s feelings and thoughts.

When I was younger, I didn’t know that there were different kinds of sicknesses. I didn’t know that there was something called “anxiety” or “depression” that made people sick, and made them act in worrying ways. But then I got a front-row seat watching my brother suffer. I learned a lot.

I’m 12 years old and in seventh grade. You’d never know who I am; I look just like you. I have a typical family. I’m one of eight siblings. Some of my older siblings are married, and I love to help out with my nieces and nephews when they come to visit. I like to read, and I love a good football game.

I always had a close relationship with my brother, the one who was right above me. We did errands together. We went to the pizza store together. We both love reading, and my brother would tell me which books were good. We shared a bedroom, and we’d talk at night.

But then things started changing.