I just received my 23andMe results and noted that we had a fairly high percentage match as relatives, 25%. I showed it to my dad since I thought it was strange that I’d never heard of you before. My dad took one look at the photo on your profile and nearly dropped the laptop on the floor, he was so taken aback by how much you resemble his high school girlfriend, Teresa. Please don’t take offense, but he said he would remember those eyebrows anywhere! After some prodding he finally opened up to me that he had gotten her pregnant and since they were both young and caught up in a string of drug usage, they had discussed her getting an abortion, which he had assumed she had gone through with. Once she was arrested, he took off and got out of the city so he could focus on getting his own life back on track. After seeing your photo and the amount of DNA we have in common, we suspect that she didn’t have the abortion after all, and that you may be my half-sister. He says had he known, he would have tried to find you years ago. But we’d like the chance to get to know you now. We live just north of New York City in New Rochelle, if you’d like to connect and maybe meet up. We both hope to hear from you soon.

Best,

Connor Daniels

I sat still for a moment, unable to believe it as I read over the message for a second time. My father was alive. I had a brother. They wanted to know me. Tears gushed out of my eyes as every emotion from the past month exploded out of me. My phone buzzed in my hand and I looked down to see a text from my mom.

‘Food’s getting cold! Coming soon?’

‘Be there in a few, just need to respond to an email really quick,’ I tapped out.

With trembling fingers, I typed back a response.

Dear Connor,

It is so good to hear from you. It’s been quite the emotional rollercoaster over the last month, trying to find my biological family and learn more about where I come from. I was adopted as a baby and just recently found out after getting my own 23andMe results. I’m so glad you reached out to me and I would be thrilled to get to know you and your father. Who, I guess if we are siblings, is my father. I live in Brooklyn so I can meet in the city or travel up to you, if that’s easier. If you’d like to connect by phone first, I’m including my cell number below. Please feel free to text or call me anytime. I look forward to hearing from you both.

All my best,

Liz