[PEARL]
The photograph in front of me was like a punch to the gut. My father, looking younger and happier than I had ever seen him, sat with a woman’s hand resting on his shoulder and a little boy on his lap. They were dressed in what seemed like casual Sunday attire. My father in a simple shirt and slacks, the woman in a floral dress, and the boy in overalls. They looked every bit of a happy family, their smiles bright and genuine. But the sight filled me with an overwhelming sense of dread and confusion.
I looked up at Jeff, my eyes wide with questions. "What is this?" I asked, my voice barely steady.
"That’s me," Jeff said, pointing to the boy in the photo. "My real father and mother." His expression was unreadable, a mix of emotions I couldn’t decipher.
I looked back at the picture
