I secretly paid off my brother’s student loans and never told him

I’m the older sibling. I’ve always felt a quiet responsibility to look out for my younger brother, even though we’re not super close emotionally. He’s always been the golden child. Straight A’s, scholarships, and the first in our family to go to university. But what most people don’t know is how much he struggled mentally during college. There were nights he’d call me crying because he couldn’t handle the pressure. He worked two jobs, barely slept, and still sent money back home for our parents.

Fast forward a few years. He graduates, gets a decent job, but still has about $28k in student loans. Meanwhile, I’d gotten lucky in life, made some good investments, and was doing comfortably well. Every time I saw him stress about those loans, it killed me inside. I’d tell him not to worry so much, that he was doing great, but he’d just shrug and say, “Yeah, I’ll be free in ten years, maybe.”

So last year, I called the loan servicer, paid off the entire thing anonymously using a money order and a PO box, and marked the account for no contact info, just “benefactor.” He got the notice a month later and thought it was a scam at first. He called them, and they confirmed it was real. He went on this long rant to me about how he couldn’t believe something like that would happen, kept trying to “figure out who would do this.” I just laughed with him and said, “Damn, you must have a guardian angel or something.”

He’s doing so much better now. He travels, sleeps better, even started dating someone. I still haven’t told him it was me, and I don’t think I ever will. I didn’t do it for recognition. I just wanted him to breathe again.

But sometimes I wish I could tell him. Not for the thanks, but just so he’d know that even though I’m not great with words or emotions but I do love him. A lot.

Anyway, thanks for reading. Just wanted to finally let it out.