He is my brother, and I love him fiercely, conspiracies and all.
I think this is the most important part of the essay, as it shows the unconditional love that family has, despite all their disagreements. It also shows that she tries to separate her brother from his personal beliefs, which is what originally caused their problems in the first place.
“We are not family,” he replied, and added a smiley face emoji that read like a middle finger.
I liked how she captured his sarcasm here, allowing us to know just how serious the conflict between Ted and his family is. It also shows how distant he has become as well. The sarcastic tone makes the moment even more impactful, with him rejecting his own family.
“I was on the banks of the River Styx. The boat came to row me across, but...instead of Charon, it was Huck and Jim. Only, when Huck pulled back his hood he was an old man...like, ninety years old.”
I found this statement interesting, as the substitution of Huck and Jim as the ferryman instead of Charon shows that even with his brain as misfiring electricity, he still thought of a story he loved, before resorting to religious or taught context. This suggests that comfort and identity aren't based on what we're taught, but what we love and truly appreciate.