New York, Sebastian

My phone was blowing up with notifications and calls, each one a reminder of the whirlwind my life had become. It was my brother, Patrick, who was the first to call, his voice filled with a mixture of curiosity and amusement.

“What do I read on the internet, lil bro?” he asked, and in the background, I could hear Sophia giggling. “I’m so excited,” she chimed in, her enthusiasm unmistakable.

I let out a sigh, realizing that there was no avoiding the truth any longer. “Yes, it’s true,” I confirmed, my emotions a tangled mess.

Patrick’s curiosity got the better of him, and he delved into the...