Man Reflects on Fatherhood After Brother's Death

I spent years avoiding fatherhood. Then my brother died when his sons were 6 and 2.

The author (center) became a father figure to his nephews when his brother died. Courtesy of Emillio Mesa. When I was younger, the men in my life never stayed. I knew I didn't want to do that to someone. I avoided fatherhood for many years, and then my brother died leaving two sons behind. Over the last 12 years, I've acted as a father figure to them, and I'm glad I was able to step up. I never wanted to be a father. Not because of things like diapers, money, or freedom. The feeling I had w...