Kincaid, Jamaica. My Brother. USA Edition. San Val, 1997
In this book I tell the story of my experience before, during, and after my brother, Devon, is admitted in a hospital in Antigua after contracting HIV. In the beginning of the book, I delve into my childhood by exploring my life complications when I used to live in Antigua. Devon was the only one among my mother's four children that was not born in a hospital. The hospital was appalling. It is not just the hospital. It is the general health care in Antigua. I had to bring a special medication made for AIDS patients called AZT from the states since they did not have it in Antigua. The hospital is extremely dirty and mismanaged. Devon was isolated because of his condition, this is the same for every other AIDS patient. One good thing that came from my brother's illness is the fact that I realized I loved him. I guess I always knew that I loved him but it was not until I saw him in the state he was, that I truly openly said it to him. Devon was surprised when I told him I loved him but he was happy in the end and replied kindly. With the help of AZT and other western medication, Devon was starting to feel better and was discharged from the hospital.
"I felt myself being swallowed up in a large vapor of sadness...I became afraid that he would die before I saw him again...It surprised me that I loved him; I could see that was what I was feeling, love for him, and it surprised me because I did not know him at all."
- Kincaid never liked her brother's morals nor his daily practices. She was distant from him her entire life and when she finally faced him again, she realizes that she really does love him.
“I had said to him that nothing good ever could come of his being so ill, but all the same I wanted to thank him for making me realize that I loved him” (21)
- People don't really miss the things they have until they don't have it anymore. Its a good thing Kincaid realized that she loved her brother before it was too late.
“I missed him. I missed seeing him suffer. I missed felling sorry that in the midst of some large thing and hoping he would emerge from it changed for the better. I did not love him.” (57-58)
- As Devon's condition improved, Kincaid grew less and less fond of him. She was starting to take him for granted again.
To be honest, I was not surprised at all when the author said she really did love her brother. Even though Devon has been nothing short of a disappointment to her and their family, he is still her brother which makes her forced by nature to love him. In my opinion, I believe this to be true for every family. No matter how screwed up it is. I personally can't say anything about this matter because thankfully, I never had a family member that I hated. But if there was, I am certain that I would be able to forgive them. No matter what they did.
