I ADOPTED A 4-YEAR-OLD BOY—ALL SEEMED PERFECT UNTIL HE SHOWED ME HIS DRAWING

I always dreamed of having kids, but life didn’t go the way I planned. After years of hoping and waiting, I realized maybe my path was meant to be different. That’s when I met Joey, a little boy who needed a home just as much as I needed him. From the moment he reached for my hand, I knew I was finally a mom.

A week after Joey moved in, I planned his FIRST REAL BIRTHDAY. I wanted it to feel special—balloons, pancakes, presents carefully picked out just for him. We laughed in the kitchen, making a total mess, and for a moment, I thought he finally felt safe.

But when he opened his gift, his smile faded. By the time we sat down with the cake, HE WASN’T EVEN LOOKING AT ME! Just staring at the candle like it wasn’t real…

I nudged the plate toward him, waiting for that little spark of joy. Instead, he looked up, eyes full of something I couldn’t place. And that’s when he said it, quiet but sharp enough to break me:

“My birthday was YESTERDAY.”

“But… the documents say it’s today,” I whispered.

“They made a MISTAKE. It’s my brother’s…” he answered.

My heart stopped. “Wait. Your BROTHER??”

He was silent for a moment, then finally added,

“YOU HAVE TO SEE SOMETHING.”

Then, he reached under his pillow and pulled out a small wooden box. He opened it and took out a folded piece of paper, handing it to me.

I looked at it… and oh my God! ⬇