Closer Than A Brother

Those who take the risks necessary for intimate friendship gain a treasure that will transform their lives.

The petals of the roses I'd gathered for my daughter only a day before lay scattered around the vase that still held their naked stems. Lydia, my six-year-old, was pointing to them and weeping uncontrollably.I knew that the news of our impending move to another city had left her emotionally fragile, so I took Lydia in my arms and offered words of comfort:

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