Tom and Harry Lewinsky were only 6 and 9 years old, respectively, when their father died. Never being exposed to the comfort and security of a father they provided it themselves, of course with the help of their mother. They cared for each other every day at school, Harry keeping a distant but close eye on Tom being the older brother. Also, Tom always stayed awake late at night to check his big brother’s homework and assignments for him. Every day they sat together at dinner, laughing and joking, hiding the frowns from their mother.  She never got used to working in the factory, from the early morning until the late afternoon. If their father was here she would never have worked, he managed all the money and she was just a pretty housewife.  Years had passed and the boys began to show stubble on their faces, and everything was seemingly bright for them.
“But it is my duty to participate in protecting my country” Tom argued heatedly, “and besides they pay a good lot of money that you can’t say we don’t need can you?!”
“Yes I can. We don’t need the money we are doing just fine” Harry repeated. He knew he was wrong though. Their mother was getting old and the daily expenses are barely covered. All in all he was starting to become really annoyed with Tom. Harry always took as much jobs as he can take in a day. He was the one caretaking for his family. It was something he didn’t want to burden Tom with. However, Tom apparently decided that their mother was working for a long time. He decided to join the British army going to the French-German border and by doing that his mother does not  have to work.   Unfortunately, Tom’s brilliant plan turned into a big failure and added to the family’s burden.  After a couple of months, Tom was sent back home.
Harry was there when his brother’s boat arrived. The general told him his brother was coming home and told him nothing more. He was pacing down the pavement and was chewing on his fingers. He smiled and looked at his watch, pure gold held with genuine black leather, it belonged to his father.  Harry stopped his pacing at the sound of a big ship arriving. He could see the big army ship at the horizon,  releasing black smoke to the bright blue skies. He was so worried, how did Tom look? Was he tired from all the fighting? Was it that he couldn’t stand the blood so the general sent him back? Or did he get in a fight with his fellows? He smiled thinking how mischievous his brother was when younger. His little daydream episode was interrupted by the loud sound of the army boat signaling its arrival. That is when he saw Tom, at the balcony of the arriving ship. He jumped from joy and screamed Tom’s name waving his hands excitedly. The ship kept coming closer and the noise became louder and louder. Tom was looking exactly at the spot where Harry was maniacally waving, but he did not show any sign of recognition. Harry realized this and immediately stopped waving in petrified shock.
“You never listen to me, I told you not to lead yourself to this mischief” scowled Mrs.Lewinsky, tears running down her eyes at the sight of her blind darling.
“Mum it is meant to be” answered Tom quietly as Harry helped him to his seat, “and besides, Harry already gave me the I-told-you speech so please, you don’t have to repeat”
Harry seated himself opposite the couch where his mother sat beside Tom. He stared at his dear blind brother, his bright green eyes were now grey. He remembered how Tom used to be so proud of their eye’s spectacular greenness. He always boasted how they are the best things their father have given them. Harry practically planned Tom’s entire life for him. He would finish school and then find himself a decent job meet a lovely woman get married and have children. Tom messed it all up by joining this war. Harry sighed and tilted his head backwards, staring at the ceiling. If only he could’ve stopped him. If only he have found a good job and saved Tom the thought of helping his mother. The problem was that Harry was not as smart and good looking as Tom, so getting a good job was pretty difficult. Tom was the smart one with a great future ahead of him. If only he could’ve stopped him from going to this bloody war, none of this would’ve happened.
“I am sorry, but there is nothing we can do” said the doctor in his informative steady voice, “because of the intensity of the bombing your eyes are completely damaged, I’m so sorry”
Mother wept, Tom was speechless, and Harry was angry. He walked slowly to the window opposite Tom’s bed, stared  out the window, his hands slowly turning to fists. They all had hope in the idea that something can be done. They were all disappointed. Harry banged his fist at the window.
“This is all so wrong.” He said while clenching his teeth. Harry ran after the doctor. Tom was not regretting this incident by itself, he regretted not appreciating and seeing all the beautiful things before. He also hated making his mother so sad. Most importantly he hated the way Harry was acting and he knew why. He was blaming himself that he didn’t stop him from going to the war. He asked his mother to stop crying and leave him alone for a minute. Tom sat up on his bed as his mother closed the door behind her. He could feel the cold windy night chilling his bones. He wished his father was here. Though he did not know him very well he thought he might add a bit of optimism to this depressing atmosphere. Harry rushed into the room, breathing rapidly.
“The doctor scheduled you for an operation tomorrow morning, he can fix your eyes” he said happily. The next part of the story was completely irrational.  Tom, Harry, and their mother had some bad feelings to this operation. After all operating on one’s eye is very risky. Tom entered the operating room and got out in a couple of hours. The doctor assured that the procedure went well, but that doesn’t mean anything until Tom is fully recovered. He was still under anesthesia and would not be awake until later.  
After he woke up he called for his mother, who took his hands immediately. He asked for his brother but he wasn’t there. The doctor came a few minutes later to take off the bandages.  Tom sat up, and the doctor slowly addressed his bandages. Tom was gradually seeing some brightness, until at last he felt that the sun was directly in front of his eyes. The doctor told him this is normal and that he must wait a few minutes before his eyes could adjust. As Tom’s eyes adjusted he saw his doctor smiling at his right and his mother happily crying at his left. They were a bit foggy but he was sure he could see them, and was sure he could not see Harry. After this episode of joy mother went to find Harry and the doctor left. Tom walked around the room, touching and feeling and seeing everything around him. He stopped by the window, looking at the bright morning. He always heard the sound of children playing outside, now he can see them too. He saw two boys playing the sea-saw, they reminded him of Harry and himself. Tom felt so good just by staring at the people, for the first time in his life he understood how much fun this could be. If only Harry was here to enjoy this moment with him, this whole scene would be just perfect. Tom then saw something that grabbed his attention. A young man was walking down the pavement, he was waving a stick in front of him, he was blind. Tom’s view was a bit foggy but he kept staring at the young man. He was wearing a golden watch that reflected the sun’s rays and he couldn’t see his face properly. When the reflection ceased, Tom saw his face.  He fell to his knees from shock,  it was Harry.
Love does not have a fixed definition. Love is not one big abstract feeling, it is many little things. It is the everyday motivation that defies a mother from abandoning her child. Love is what makes a person endure daily stresses. Love is the reason a believer holds on to their religion in a secular world. Love between human kind gives hope to the hungry African boy, that someone will take care of him. Love makes a person feel good, but sometimes, hurts like no other feeling. Most importantly, love is sacrifice. Love is going to the extreme to preserve the person you love and doing the best for them, even if it hurts you. Giving without question is the essence of love. In love, the whole world seems worthless, and the person you love is all what you think about, and is all what you need.