Sam used to be a mama’s boy, always clinging to Candice and lighting up at the sight of her. But one day, he started avoiding her hugs, kisses, and even her presence. At first, I thought it was a phase, but it was more than that.
I’m Robert, 32, a husband and father. My life revolved around work and family—my wife Candice and our five-year-old son, Sam. Candice, once a nurse, became a stay-at-home mom when Sam was born, pouring love into our home. Sam was always affectionate, but recently, he’d been pulling away from her.
One evening, I asked Candice if she’d noticed. She brushed it off as a phase, but I felt something was wrong. Later, when Candice was out, I asked Sam directly. His response shook me.
“Mom has a secret. She cries a lot when you’re not home,” he said. “I saw her with a picture. She hid it in a green box under the bed.”
My heart pounded. Once Sam went back to playing, I checked under the bed and found a green box. Inside was a photo of a man who resembled Candice. Who was he? Was she hiding something?
That night, I confronted Candice with the photo. Her face paled, and she admitted the truth. “He’s my twin brother,” she said. “I just found out about him.”
Candice explained that her mother had an affair before she was born, resulting in twins. Her mom’s lover, Billy, took one twin, while her parents kept Candice, lying to her father that the other twin had died. Her grandmother revealed this secret only recently.
“I’ve been crying because I don’t know what to do,” she confessed. “If I find him, it could ruin my parents’ marriage. But he’s my brother. I want to know him.”
I held her, assuring her we’d figure it out together. “You deserve to know your brother, Candice. You’re not alone.”
That night, for the first time in weeks, she smiled. Thanks to Sam’s innocent observations, I discovered the weight Candice was carrying. Now, we’re facing it together, one step at a time.
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