I’ve Always Dreamed of Stepping Into My Brother’s Shoes, But Everything Soon Took a Turn

I have always imagined myself in my brothers shoes, but everything soon turned upside down.
My mother became pregnant with me when she was eighteen. As soon as my father learned the news, he left ushe wanted endless parties and friends, not a family. My maternal grandparents were outraged. In a small town near Lille, an unwed mother was deemed a disgrace, and my grandfather drove her out, shouting, Ill never see such an irresponsible girl again! I cant even picture what she enduredso young, alone, a baby in her arms. Yet she persevered: she enrolled in a correspondence university, found work, and gave everything she had. She was assigned a room in a boarding house, and the two of us began our life together. I had to grow up faster than other kidsshopping, cleaning, reheating meals. There was no time for play. From an early age, I became her pillar, her only man.
I never complainedI was proud of it. Then Victor entered our lives. I liked him: he brought chocolates, pleased Mom, and took care of her. She glowed whenever he was near, and one day she announced, Victor and I are getting married and well move into a big house. I was thrilledI dreamed of having a real father and hoped Victor would fill that role. At first everything seemed wonderful. I finally had my own space to rest, listen to music, read books. Victor helped Mom, and his eyes sparkled with happiness.
Soon after, she said she was expecting a child. Not long after, Victor told me, Youll have to move into the storage room. That will be the babys bedroom. I didnt understandwhy me when the house was huge? The next day my belongings were already piled into a tiny corner that fit only a single bed. It felt unfair, but I kept silent, accustomed to enduring.
When my little brother Michel was born, the nightmare truly began. His cries robbed me of sleep, leaving me to wander like a zombie. My school grades plummeted, teachers scolded me, and Mom shouted, You must set an example for your brother! Stop bringing shame on us, lazy one! As Michel grew, new duties were thrust upon metaking him to the park, pushing his stroller. Other kids mocked me, I blushed with shame, yet I stayed quiet. Everything besttoys, clotheswent to Michel. When I asked for anything for myself, Victor replied curtly, No money. I dropped Michel off at daycare, fetched him, cooked, cleaned the houseliving in the hope that he would soon grow up and free me.
When Michel started school, Mom ordered me to help with his homework. He was spoiled, capricioushe did poorly, and every time I tried to correct him he complained to Mom. She always defended him, and I was reprimanded, Youre the eldest; you must be more patient! He bounced from school to school, failing everywhere. Eventually he was placed in a private school where his bad grades were ignored for a fee. I enrolled in a mechanic programnot by choice, but to escape the household.
After that came distance learning and workI labored day and night, saving for my own place. I married, found peace. And Michel? Victor gave him an apartment, yet he still lives with our parents, rents the flat and squanders the money. He refuses to work, spending his days glued to the TV. One New Years Eve we gathered at my parents house. His latest girlfriend, Léa, was there, and I overheard their conversation in the kitchen.
Youre lucky to have your brother, she told my wife, Marie. Stanislas is a real hardworker, responsible. Why isnt Michel?” She added, I asked him to live together, start a family, but he clings to his mother. The rent money does us no good.
Yes, Stan is wonderful, Marie replied, smiling. Forget about Michel; he doesnt deserve you. Hell never make a good husband.
I stood frozen. Michel swapped girlfriends as often as shirts, but none stayedMom drove them all away, deeming them unworthy of her golden boy. He never resisted, living in his laziness like inside a cocoon. In that moment I realized I no longer envied him. All the dreams I hadbeing in his placewere empty. Fate gave me hardships, but it also rewarded me. I now have a family, a loving wife, a daughter, a home I built with my own hands. I am proud of who I am, and for the first time Im glad not to be Michel. My life is my hardwon, authentic victory.