I find myself waking up with a jolt, tears flowing down my face. "No!"
Dependable as always, Dick comes running. He hands me the tissues.
"You O.K?" "I had the nightmare that I wish just a nightmare. I-I just miss him so much and it really, really hurts." "I know."
He sits down beside me.
"Do you want to talk about it, H?" "I...think I do. I really do." "Well, I'm listening. Always."
After wiping my eyes, I clear a lump from my throat. "Dick, I've always been slightly afraid to tell you this but..." My voice softens. "The reason I couldn't use my healing magic to help my Dad is because if there isn't a cure for what I'm using that magic for..." My voice gets smaller. "I can't do anything. That's why I couldn't do anything for him. Why I was so helpless." "H, I'm so sorry. You've been keeping that bottled up, haven't you?" "That's not all I haven't told you."
I bite my lip. "I'm a little bit jealous of the relationship you have with Bruce. It hurts seeing a relationship like that. But with Babs...Sometimes I just feel so mad that she has a Father and I don't. Don't get me wrong, I know I carry mine in my heart. I just wish I could see him, have him hug me but...But...I need him here. With me." "You have me. You'll always have me. I'm so sorry you've been keeping stuff like that bottled up."
Tears start to flow down my face. "I need him. I need him." "Shhh. I know." He hugs me. "I'm right here. Always going to be. As your brother. I know it hurts but I'll do my best to ease your pain. Because big brothers look out for their little sisters. And you're always going to be my little sister."
A smile slowly comes to my face. "I really like having a big brother. I know I'll always have you as mine."
He smiles and tousles my hair. "That's good."
I fix my hair as my smile widens. "Yeah, it really is. It rocks!"
I grab my guitar and find myself singing spur-of-the-moment lyrics. "I know I have a brother I know I always will He has a little sister and it's me Me!"
He grins and starts singing too. "I know I have a sister I know I always will She has a big brother and it's me Me!"
We end up singing in unison. "Sisters and brothers Hey! Brothers and sisters Hey! They bond in their own special way Each and every day Hey!"
I'm grinning now. That may have been a short song but I loved it. Dick has proved, once again, in his own way, what a brother is for.