As my day unfolds, a small nagging piece of unrest is going to disturb my otherwise calm and determined mind. I may be happy and smiling, working hard and feeling good about myself, but I know that somebody I love is not happy. This will touch on me on and off until . . . . I don't know when.

I post here because my family does not go to this site at all. My brother is in an unhappy marriage. Yes, this is the case for many people. So what, right? His problem. Figure it out - bigger issues out there right now!

It saddens me. My brother is one of my best friends. His faults and his positives - I have known them longer than anybody else that he knows. He doesn't tell any of his other friends about his relationship issues. I think it is because he feels ashamed.

There are 4 children in this household: 2 of them children that he and his wife brought into the world together, 2 that are his step-children, but who he still cares about deeply, even though the feelings may not be mutual from one of them.

My belief is that eventually this marriage will end in divorce. There is so much wrong, and such an emptiness for caring to make moves toward working at making things better. Where help should be sought, money is given as the reason that it will not be gotten.

So, I will be there as an ear to bend when he is at the end of his rope again - but only if I feel that I can be strong enough to listen. To not get angry. To not become despondent myself. Because family and friends are important to me. But I really wish that there was a happier, healthier relationship for him.