Imaginary Brother

The phone rang late in the night. "...Hello?”, I picked up still groggy in my sleep. Someone was sobbing on the other end, "I don't want to live anymore...". I was going to express my displeasure for waking me up; but, that disappeared in a flash. Once my foggy brain identified the mumbling voice, I was concerned. I never faced a situation like this before. However insensitive my friends call me, I realized this was not the time for my usual suggestion of "follow what your heart tells you". I figured what that might lead to at that moment. I decided to play God instead..."Tell me, what is wrong?"

"My father thinks I am not good enough to do a Ph.D. like my brother", she kept sobbing, "no one thinks I am good enough". "But... you don't even have a brother!", I blurted out. "Yes, but my father says if I had a brother, he would have certainly done a Ph.D.", the mumbling voice continued, "even in high school, if I scored 98 out of 100 in maths and told my father that I got the highest in the class, he would just respond that my brother would have scored 100 out of 100; there is nothing for you to boast about".

I was at a total loss. I had to do something quickly. Unfortunately I was a slow thinker (still am); I struggle to even add 399 and 401. And this was particularly hard, as I, myself could never confront my over-achieving real brother. In fact, I appeared so pale in comparison that I demanded appreciation for the most basic human activity such as being able to walk upright. That would probably make a chimpanzee proud but my parents were far from impressed.

Anyway, knowing her, I was concerned that she might hang up the phone anytime. Then I would have to call 911. But, that might be too late. By now I realized the task I had at my hand. I had to keep her on the phone. But, how would I convince her that she couldn’t compete with her imaginary brother? And it didn't matter anyways?