A simple DNA test was all it took to turn my world on its head. Staring at the results on my computer screen, I couldn’t quite process what I was seeing. My mind tried to dismiss it as a mistake, but my heart… my heart knew that life would never be the same.
I’m Billy, and just days ago, I thought I had everything. An only child, I was raised by loving parents who showered me with attention and made me feel like their world. Just last week, Dad even surprised me with the latest gaming console—no occasion, just because.
“What’s this for?” I asked, thrilled.
“Do I need a reason to spoil my favorite son?” he chuckled, while Mom chimed in with a smile, “Your only son, you mean.”
Life was picture-perfect, or so I thought, until the day I turned 18. As a birthday treat to myself, I ordered one of those ancestry DNA tests, just curious to see what it might reveal. I expected some novelty—like maybe a hint of Viking ancestry—but I never expected it would uncover a secret family.
When the results finally came in, my hands shook with excitement. But as I opened the email, my excitement froze. There, in bold letters, was a “close family match”: a brother. Daniel.
I blinked, rubbed my eyes, and read it again. A brother? I was supposed to be an only child. In a daze, I dialed the DNA company’s helpline, hoping there had been a mistake. The representative on the other end was polite but firm: “Our results are double-checked, sir. This match is accurate.”
