It lies on my bed, to protect my quilt from the ravages of doggy fur. It once covered my dying lover, in the last days of his life.

Today the WordPress Daily Prompt asks;

Textures are everywhere: The rough edges of a stone wall. The smooth innocence of a baby’s cheek. The sense of touch brings back memories for us. What texture is particularly evocative to you?

It was a gift from his older brother. For me, it represents a touching reminder that regardless of differences, siblings can touch each other in many ways. I don’t know the whole story behind why Tim’s brother and him didn’t see exactly eye to eye, but I know that at the end, I suppose whatever it was had to be laid aside.

Forgiveness? I’m sure there was a lot to forgive, as many of Tim’s actions over the years wounded his family tremendously.

I was not there for that final goodbye, as his older brother lay the blanket over his frail body that had been so ravaged by cancer. In those moments, as he took it out of its packaging, and lay it upon his younger brothers frail body, I can’t imagine what he must have thought. What he regretted or what his thoughts were, will always be a mystery.

I only met his brother once, and knew how different the two were from the one story Tim told of him. Tim grew up on a large farm, and loved that life – his older brother, not so much. For some reason it was a standing division between the two; or so Tim saw it.

So now it keeps my feet warm sometimes, or serves as a division between quilt and dog. In those months after Tim’s death, and the months I spent at my sisters, I kept this blanket close. It was there at the end, and I’ve wondered if some would find me strange, however, I’ve since concluded that I don’t care what others may think.

In the end, I know that no mere blanket can erase the many divisions that exist between two brothers. In the end, I suppose forgiveness was a wound that would never heal, and kindness was really all that was left.