I wanted Joey’s first birthday with me to be magical. Balloons, presents, homemade cake – I planned every detail. But when he looked at that cake with tears in his eyes and told me it wasn’t really his birthday, our lives took an unexpected turn.
His quiet confession about his “real birthday” led to stories about a twin brother named Tommy and a grandmother named Vivi. All he had was a child’s drawing of a lighthouse to guide us to his past. What started as a simple birthday celebration became a journey to reunite two brothers separated by circumstance.
The reunion at that yellow cliffside house was more emotional than I could have imagined. Watching Joey and Tommy embrace after a year apart, seeing Vivi’s regret and love warring on her face – these moments taught me that family isn’t about blood or paperwork. It’s about showing up, making amends, and creating new beginnings from painful pasts.
