Right Where You Left Me | Grayson Dolan

4

THREE YEARS LATER
AND THEN SOME
(May)
Grayson

These past few years were rough for me, but I stayed persistent in school, and with football.

Kylie, Ethan and I all graduated this month, and I feel blessed to have gotten a higher education.

Ethan even won a football award for scholar athlete, and I won college football's most prestigious award in The U.S. The Heisman Memorial Trophy.

I was approached by the manager of the Kansas City Chiefs, but I told them they could only have me if they drafted Ethan too. I guess that was a dealbreaker for them, but that's their loss because I wouldn't have wanted to play without my brother.

I got a job as a family and children's therapist at a local mental health development center, and it's honestly been eye-opening to me.

I always knew I'd want to do a job like this, where I'm helping people out. My dad always said that if you're privileged, you should give back to the world to make it a better place, and that's exactly what I'm hoping to do.

I'm still living near St. Louis, and I recently was able to buy my own house. I figured it was time for me to find a place of my own since Ethan and Kylie got engaged after graduation.

I'm still single, but I'm doing alright.

I still have days that I think about Brooklyn, but it's mostly thinking about the good memories we had together. Of course I still miss her, but it doesn't hurt as badly as it used to.

I still don't think I'd ever love someone as much as I loved her, but you never know what this world can throw at you.

"Well," Ethan said, patting me on the back. "You're all moved in."

I smiled, giving my twin a huge hug.

"Thanks for helping me out, man."

"I'm so proud of you, Grayson," Ethan said. "I love you."

"Love you too, bro."

"I can't believe we aren't gonna be living together anymore," I said as we pulled away from the hug. "It's the end of an era."

"You're growing up, son," Ethan said.

I laughed. "Shut up, E. Don't make me cry."

"Don't worry, Gray. We'll still have sleepovers."

"It's mandatory," I joked. "You know that I have a guest room. You and Kylie can stay here as much as you'd like to."

"And you're always welcome at our place."

I nodded. "So. Beer and video games?"

"Sounds like a plan," Ethan said.

I grabbed a couple of beers from the fridge, and Ethan and I sat down on my new couch to play some good old fashioned Call of Duty.

-
The next afternoon

I was at the grocery store, picking up some food for the week when Ethan called me.