So, a teenaged Germany dealing with his brothers alcohol abuse..

I walked stiffly along the side walk as if every step was simply an automatic command running through my mind.

I didn't want to go home...

Nonetheless, I had to, because who would take care of my brother?
My steps felt weighted as I trudged up the cracked cement driveway to a house that greatly needed some repairs and a good lawn service.

Home.

I opened the door softly, trying and failing not to have it creak on the hinges.
"LUDWIG! Go get me a beer, wontcha?", yelled a voice.
I winced.
"Why don't you get it yourself?", I mumbled.
Somehow, my brother, Gilbert heard me and yelled back
"Because I'm to AWESOME!"

I sighed and defeatedly went and got him his drink. I found my brother curled up in some blankets watching football. Empty cans were littered all around him.
Gilbert had been born with a strange skin/hair condition. He was albino.
But, today, his red eyes were more bloodshot then usual.
Gilbert must already be even more on the verge of drunkenness.

On the way over to my room to do homework, I paused, looking in the mirror.

I was glad I didn't look like Gilbert.

Someday, I should just leave.
I always tell myself that.
I've got over 1,000 dollars in saving that Gilbert doesn't know about.

But.. I can't leave. Who would look after him?

I sat at my desk trying to crack some of the harder math problems.
They were still quite easy, though.
I was an honor student, not that Gilbert cared.
Or anyone but the teachers.

I heard a loud cry of
"HELLS YES"
Gilbert must've found the 8 pack of beer I had tried to hide from him.
It was going to be a long night.

-------------------------

"Give me your keys.", I said in a serious tone.
"No!", Gilbert slurred, swaying on his feet. The beer can in his hand sloshed about.
"Give them, or I will take them."
Gilbert's face hardened as I darted up to grab the keys.

And then something happened.

Something that changed the course of the future.

Gilbert swung his hand with the key drunkenly, but forcefully.

The sharp metal bit sliced across my cheek, creating a deep gash.

I gave a yelp as white hot pain flared up.

Gilbert looked shocked. He stared at me momentarily and then ran back into the house. I heard the lock to his room click.

I picked up the key and whipped my blood off of it, pocketing it.

---------------------------------

I was up early for school. I put on my clothes and then went to the mirror to comb my hair back.

The cut was still there, inflamed and standing out.

This one I wouldn't be able to hide.

At school, I was getting lots of stares. I must've looked frightening with such a large cut.

Later, the counselor, Mr. Williams, stopped me in the hallway.
Oh no.
He was a soft spoken man so I had to concentrate to hear him.

"Ludwig.. How did you get that cut?"
"Fell."
Mr. Williams nodded, unconvinced.
"Ludwig.. Can you tell me about your home life?"

And I guess that marked the point where my life both began and ended.

----------

There were school inquiries, then the police, and later child services.

Mr. Kirkland, a kind man from Child Services with thick eyebrows, came to take me away.

Away from brother...

Gilbert clung onto me. His breath surprisingly lacked the alcoholic tang I was so used to.

I didn't want to leave him. Who would take care of him?

Mr. Kirkland assured me he would be looked after, but I didn't believe him.

I was loaded into the back of the car that would take me away from Gilbert.

From the place I had called Home for 15 years..

And it pains me to admit, I didn't look back.

---------------------

College came and went. With it brought my fiancé, Felicia.
She was an exchange student from Italy with the most optimistic way of seeing things.
I loved her more than anything.

I had done my best to push the first 15 years of my life out of my mind.

Until they were painfully brought back in a sudden whirlwind.

Felicia and I walked down the street on the way to dinner at a nice French restaurant.

On the far side of the side walk, I saw a face that was all to familiar.

He looked older, so much older.

We stared at each other, momentarily and the glint of recognition lit his tired eyes.

He looked like he wanted to say something, and so did I.

But words fail, as they always have.

So we merely nodded.

"Who's that?", Felicia chirped after he had passed from sight.

"Nobody."

Because that's all he was.