Recently, a 13 year old boy in Maryland had to not only be a big brother in a scary situation, but a man in a life or death situation.

Not only did Marcus,13, discover the smoke and direct his younger sister to safety, but while doing so called 911 and for 11 minutes, the young man directed the firefighters exactly how to get to each individual quickly and safely. Upon arrival, the firefighters broke into the wrong window; while yelling out to his family periodically to check on them, he redirected the firefighters. When discovering Marcus, they placed an oxygen mask on him which he immediately took off to place on his little sister.

The family made it out alive and well, being treated for smoke inhalation shortly after being rescued.

At 13 years old, I would cry during thunderstorms and yell down the hall for my mom. I could barely order my own for at Pizza Hut because I felt uncomfortable talking to others, and my 13 year old brain under fear and pressure– I would break down and cry pretty much no matter the situation. Now, I understand that maybe not everyone was the same at 13, but one might easily assume the mental maturity this young man must have to not only handle this situation but to handle it, assist those who were saving him while keeping a level head? Personally, I am extremely proud. Many people talk about being the youngest, or or the middle child. But what do you do when your parents aren’t home? You sit there all alone, and suddenly you hear A noise so you go over a mental list of all the different scenarios of what it could be, mine usually involve a burglar/killer combination.

Parents make you babysit your younger siblings all the time; I am constantly watching my own, and most of the time the thought “she would have been fine without me here,” crosses my mind. But the idea of having  to think, “I wish she were still here,” at the hospital because she got hurt or died makes the hair on the back of my neck stand up. When I look up and don’t see her at the park my stomach turns and it feels like ice is shot through my veins; but then I see that she was just going down the tube slide and I mutter a quick thanks to God.

Imagining the idea of being alone, or leaving a family member alone no matter my age feels just wrong. Our world crawls with harm, granted yes there is only like a one in ten chance of these terrible things happening; but what if your family is that one? Older siblings; never be too careful, hug your little idiot brother or sassy sister because one day you cannot be there. Younger siblings; respect your bossy sister or your mean brother, because a lot of weight is on their shoulders, one day they will be gone and you’ll remember the time they had to patch up your skinned knee or went to help you pick out your first prom dress. And for the only children out there– just love your friends and family, because in the end that is all that we are; friends  and family.

Look out for each other, love each other and respect each other.