My former stepbrother

So I have a former stepbrother. He was a year younger than me. We had the same father. The mother was his biological, my step. <br><br>Around age 9 the mother would leave the younger one outside in his room (outside because he couldn’t be inside without getting sent away for picking at the walls and other things) until around 3am. <br><br>He was not allowed to do chores and she (our) father would take care of his meals. <br><br>Around the age of 11 he began having severe seizures. They would be so bad his whole body would shake and he almost always (it seemed) asphyxiated during the episode. The first one I witnessed I was frightened. The stepmother came up to me and (paraphrasing) “he knows this may happen and is ok with it.” <br><br>I began having accidents at 11 as well but not as severe and almost never resulted in an asphyxiation episode. <br><br>Both of us were not allowed to wear clothes and we were only allowed to eat through straws. <br><br>I never understood why because when I was so young the mother was very kind and did everything for me. As I got older I was constantly being punished and not allowed to do things other kids were doing in my age group. <br><br>We both went to therapy but it did nothing and at 15 I had my first mental breakdown. <br><br>The mother packed my bags, threw me in the car and took me to my (actual) mother’s. <br><br>The (actual) mother is deaf so she had always been as kind as the stepmother had been when we were younger. She had no patience for me as I would do things like try to pull up her clothes when she was signing to me. She was very patient with me and almost immediately (and eagerly) enrolled me in all kinds of therapy. <br><br>Around 15 I began having severe seizures but not as bad as the stepbrother. <br><br>It wasn’t until I was an adult when I realized the mother and father were abusing us. I would never (and I mean never) use a straw to drink or eat. I do not allow myself to be in a position where I would have to wear diapers and I am terrified of losing my ability to speak. <br><br>It was at 25 that I began having severe depression, severe anxiety and was diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia. <br><br>I am now in my 30s and I am moving forward with my life but I have not forgotten about my stepbrother. <br><br>I received a letter from him about 2 years ago and he seemed very happy. He has come out as gay and has found a partner. They live in New York City and he has found his passion in photography. <br><br>There was almost no (and I mean almost no) mention of me, my dad, the mother or anyone else from that day. <br><br>I was happy for him and have often considered reaching out but I just don’t know. <br><br>I did however take his advice and do everything I could to better myself. <br><br>I received my first car accident settlement for over $100K and with that money I enrolled in school, got therapy and began my photography business. I am so happy with my life now. <br><br>I still have some residue left from my past but for the most part I am at peace. <br><br>Today my son and I were at the park (my son was there, so were many others) and I saw him. <br><br>He looked very different but still very much the same. I remembered him as being very skinny and almost sick (and I know he was) but as an adult he looked almost unrecognizable. The hair was shorter but the eyes looked the same. <br><br>I didn’t know what to do. I wanted to say hello but I didn’t know if he would be ok with it. I didn’t want him to freak out in front of his child so I decided to leave. <br><br>I left and I did not look back.