For As Long As I Can Remember

For as long as I can remember, I was the quiet one… The defiant one…. The one who loved to be loved. I was the one who gave the shirt off my back, The one who would dry my friends’ tears…. The one who had everyone’s back, Even when I felt like no one had mine. For as long as I can remember, I was the one…. Who answered every phone call, Who gave the best advice I could, I was the one…. Who prayed for everyone, And who would sit down with my family, Just to have a good laugh. For as long as I can remember, I was the best friend…. I was the brother…. I was the son…. I was everyone’s everything. The uncle…. The beloved bellman, The lonewolf who cared nothing about anyone’s feelings…. I was the voiceless puppet, I was the husband, I was the father…. I was the member of the United States Armed Forces…. I was the one you knew little about, But you knew enough about. I was the rebellious. I was the one who loved to love everyone. I was the one who trusted no one. I was the sometimes loud one. I was the one who moved in slience, For as long as I can remember, I was the imperfect angel in the form of a rebel…. At least…. For as long as I can remember, That’s who I was….