A DNA Test Led Me to My Brother, and He Remembers the past I Never Lived

All it needed to completely upend my existence was a DNA test. I recall attempting to interpret the results while I was glued to my computer screen. My heart understood right away that things would change, even though my intellect told me they were wrong.

I’m Billy, and I believed I was living the dream until a few days ago. Being the only child, I have always received love and care from my parents. They have provided for all of my needs and desires.

My father gave me the newest game console as a complete surprise just last week.

“What’s this for?” With wide, excited eyes, I asked.

He simply grinned and shrugged. “Do I need a reason to spoil my favorite son?”

“Your only son, you mean,” Mrs. Mom smiled.

“All the more reason to spoil him!” Dad laughed, ruffling my hair.

It has always been like way. The three of us leading the ideal life. Perfect till I found across a life-changing fact.

It all began on my eighteenth birthday. I had made the decision to get one of those DNA tests for heritage. The ones that tell you whether you’re 2% Viking or something. All I wanted to do was ask. I had no idea how it would alter my life.

The day the results were announced, I was really bouncing up and down. I continued to check my email every few minutes in anticipation of the alert.

Mom yelled out from the kitchen, “Billy, honey, if you keep jumping like that, you’re going to wear a hole in the floor.”

“I apologize, Mom! I’m simply ecstatic about my DNA findings.

The email finally came.

As I clicked on it, I could feel my heart racing. Unaware that what I would witness next would permanently alter my life, I was ecstatic.

There, in black and white, was a notification of a tight match. A sibling. Daniel.

I massaged my eyes, blinked, and took another look. It must have been an error! Correct? I am the lone child. I was an only child all my life.

I grabbed my phone in a haze and called the company’s support. Perhaps there was a misunderstanding.

A happy voice said, “Hello, how can I assist you today?”

“Hi, um, I just got my results and, uh, I think there might be a mistake?” Uncertain if I was acting appropriately, I said.

“I promise that our tests are 100% accurate, sir. Before distributing the results, we verify them again.

“Oh, alright,” came my reply. “Th-thank you.”

After hanging up, I took another look at the results. This was not possible. How could I be unaware that I had a brother?

I knew exactly who to ask for the answers I needed.

I stayed up waiting for Dad to come home from work that evening. As soon as I heard his car come into the driveway, I hurried downstairs.

I followed him into the living room after letting him in.

“Hi, Dad? Could we speak for a moment?”

He smiled as he raised his head. “Yes, child. What are you thinking about?

“So, uh, remember that DNA test I took?” As I fidgeted with my shirt, I said.

He gave a nod.

“Well, I got the results today and…” I hesitated, unsure of what to say next. “Dad, do you know someone named Daniel?”

At that moment, I realized something was off. In an instant, Dad’s expression transformed. His cheeks lost all of their color, and his eyes grew wide.

He looked around to make sure Mom wasn’t there and asked, “Where did you hear that name?”

I informed him of the test’s findings. I saw his face shift as I spoke. After closing his eyes and inhaling deeply, he stated something unexpected.

“Listen,” he continued softly, “please don’t tell your mother about this. She’s not sure. Years ago, I had an affair. She will depart if she learns.”

I nodded while vowing to keep quiet. However, I felt uneasy when I got back to my room.

Dad’s response didn’t seem right. There seemed to be more to the narrative than he was disclosing.

That night, I was unable to sleep. As I stared at the test findings, I couldn’t decide what to do.

Is it appropriate for me to text him? I pondered.

I would be against my dad if I texted him. However, I was at a loss for how else to discover the facts.

I contacted him right away after clicking on his profile.

I was shocked when he replied in less than 30 minutes.

Billy? Is that you? It’s unbelievable!

After exchanging a few messages, we decided to meet the following day at a café.

Was going behind my father’s back the correct thing for me to do?

I walked to the café the following morning after telling Mom I was going out with my best friend. Daniel was easily recognizable to me. It was as though I was staring into a mirror when I saw him right away.

He looked SO MUCH like me.

“Billy?” he said, getting to his feet.

Unable to say, I nodded. Neither of us knew what to say as we sat down.

The silence was finally broken by Daniel.

“You remember the lake by our old house?” he asked, smiling. “We’d swing on that old, rusty swing set and throw rocks into the water.”

I shook my head and said, “No, I don’t know what you’re talking about,” “We never lived together.”

Daniel’s smile vanished. “What are you saying? Up until the age of five or six, we shared a home. Do you not recall? And the dog, Scruffy, would go wherever with us.

I became defensive. He was babbling gibberish.

“You’re the affair child, according to my dad. I just learned about you a few days ago.

“Wait… you think I’m the affair child?” He inquired. “So, you don’t recall that day? “The fire?”

“Fire?”

He gave a nod. Yes, when we were young, our house burned down. Our parents were not present.

“What?” I was surprised.

Yes, and I do recall how you came to my rescue. After that, I was sent to another home while you were adopted. I had to never get in touch with the adoption procedure.”

I shook my head, saying, “That… that can’t be right,” “I’m not adopted. I would know if I was.”

When he said, “This is the truth, Billy,” “I don’t know why your parents never told you anything.”

After our meeting, I felt bewildered and irritated.

How could Mom and Dad do this to me? I pondered. How could something so significant be concealed?

I had a nagging suspicion that I needed to know more when I came home.

The following day, while my parents were out, I sneaked into my dad’s office. I had to know the truth, even if I felt bad about it.

I discovered evidence that Daniel was correct after looking through some old documents.

The complaint concerned an apartment building fire. Daniel had told me about the same building.

As I went through the records, my hands began to shake. My adoptive parents were the building’s owners, and electrical problems caused the fire to start. To save money on expensive repairs, they disregarded complaints about defective wiring.

The fire that separated me from my biological parents was caused by their carelessness.

What the fuck did I think? How in the world is this possible?

Additional paperwork were found, and they confirmed my adoption. The fact that my adoptive parents hadn’t taken me in out of sympathy or love was what pained me the most. To hide their trails, they had done it. to stay out of legal trouble.

That was the only thing I wanted to do. Face my parents.

That night, I waited until they arrived home.

I held out the paper and remarked, “I didn’t know you used to own this building,” “What happened with that fire?”

Dad’s brows knitted, but he made every effort to remain composed.

And he said, “Oh, that?” “That was a long time ago. Really, that was a catastrophe. However, why are you investigating that? Why did you enter my office, too?

His eyes were filled with terror, and I saw it. Dad was more terrified than I had ever seen him.

“It’s just that I met someone who mentioned a fire,” I said. “They said we used to know each other before I was adopted.”

Dad’s eyes went wide with surprise.

He stumbled through an explanation. It has to do with wanting to avoid bringing up unpleasant memories.

However, it was too late. His face was etched with the truth, and I could see it.

I hastily collected my things and went to my bedroom. I was finished. I could no longer stand to be in that house.

Daniel agreed to let me stay with him for a few days when I called him.

As I was leaving the house, Dad would constantly apologize, but I wasn’t prepared to forgive him.

I had dinner with Daniel after he invited me to his home.

He said, “They stole you from me,” while we were eating. “From us.”

I was unsure of how to react.

All I knew was that my entire existence had been a lie and that my real parents had died because of the people I mistakenly believed to be my loving parents.

However, as I sat there, I saw that this tragedy had brought me to a genuine relationship. My brother, who had been waiting for me for years, finally met me as a result.

And I was appreciative of that.