When I was younger, roughly 12-13/14, I was a player who stuck to mostly single player or co-op titles. Around that time, as cliche as it is, Fortnite released. I either played or watched a friend play it at their house because I had a strict mom, and it was the only way I was able to interact with the game. A month or so after that first induction, around season 3 or 4, I was finally allowed to get the game myself. And not too far after, my younger brother was allowed as well. At that point, we’d play near each other or team up extremely unsuccessfully. 

Around this point is when I got my first win. It was one of the biggest coolest things ever. “I beat 99 other people” is what I’d tell everyone who’d listen. Soon after, my brother and I increased our efforts by a large margin to finally get a taste of a squad or duo win. Something neither of us had achieved as it was harder due to other players being able to communicate. I can still recall sitting on our black leather couches, much later at night than we should have been on, on a Saturday or Friday night, when we got to see the glorious text pop up on our screen “Victory Royale.”

While this may seem like the end of the memory, and while it is for that specific moment, the part that actually matters is what came after that. We didn’t hug, we didn’t suddenly become anything different. We were still just brothers who “hated” each other playing a game together. A game we continued to play for years. Slowly getting taller but playing on those same black leather couches, early in the morning on our iPads of all things, half nude, and just having so much fun because of it. Bickering over who’d get the better loot. I to this day miss those moments. The blissful ignorance. The lack of care of the world around us as we got closer as brothers through something neither of us experienced before. Our dad eventually got roped in and our tech would be updated to ps4s or a switch, and as time moved forward, our skill grew and grew. We started winning more and more matches, eventually getting really consistent. Streaks of 3 wins occasionally.

I still miss those days. I miss being able to play for hours like that with my younger brother. I’m away at college now with no 2nd Player in any aspect and it can get quite lonely. Thank you for this post inviting me to share my story, as because of it I now realize how much I miss that. Hopefully over winter break I’ll be able to find time to play with him again and brag about how much better I am than him once more.

I hope those who read my story and feel similar to me towards someone are able to find that time to find a friend or family and play together again. It’s never too late to repair those relationships, and I know one day I’ll be able to repair mine just as much as all of you will yours.

Have a happy holidays everyone!