My brother. My damn brother. I hadn’t thought about him in years, not since he disappeared from my life like some magician pulling the ultimate vanishing act. “One day he was there, and then he wasn’t,” I muttered to myself. My stomach clenched with old anger and unanswered questions.

“Okay, let’s go find security so they can make an announcement and help you find your dad, okay?” I straightened and held out my hand to Tommy. He nodded, and off we went. I tried to put thoughts of my brother out of my mind, but I couldn’t shake the feeling that he was connected to this child.

That’s when I saw him. A man rushing toward us, eyes frantic, searching for something—or someone. Ryan. He looked different, more haggard, but it was him. “Dad!” Tommy tugged on my hand, his voice pulling me out of my stupor. He tried to let go of my hand, but I was frozen.

Suddenly, Ryan’s eyes locked on us. I saw the exact moment he registered what he was seeing—me, his estranged brother, standing with his son. For a split second, his expression shifted from panic to disbelief, maybe even shock. Then he started walking, almost jogging, straight toward us.

As he got closer, I noticed the dark circles under his eyes, the lines etched into his face. He wasn’t the carefree brother I remembered. “Tommy,” Ryan said, his voice shaky with relief. He grabbed Tommy by the shoulders, pulling him into a quick hug before stepping back.

“I-I can’t believe… thank you for—” His voice trailed off, unsure, awkward. “You’re welcome,” I managed to say, though the words came out stiffer than I intended. Years of not speaking hung in the air between us. Ryan glanced down at Tommy, then back at me. He looked cautious, like he didn’t know how to act around me anymore. Maybe he didn’t.

“Didn’t think I’d see you again,” Ryan said quietly, his hand resting protectively on Tommy’s shoulder. “Yeah, well, same,” I muttered. “Is he… my nephew?” Ryan froze, his eyes widening for a split second. His face twisted with hesitation, but eventually, he nodded. “Yeah. He is.” I exhaled sharply, trying to wrap my head around the fact that Ryan had built a whole life without me in it. “I wish I’d known.”

Ryan sighed, looking down at the floor. “I didn’t know how to tell you.” “You just vanished, Ryan. One day you were there, and then you weren’t,” I said, my voice cracking with emotion. “You just—” “I know. I screwed up. I know that,” Ryan said, running a hand through his hair. He glanced at Tommy, his face softening as he looked at his son.

“But I had to leave. Things were… complicated. I didn’t know how to handle it all.” “Yeah, no kidding,” I muttered, more to myself than to him. There was another long, awkward silence. Tommy shifted on his feet, sensing the tension but too young to understand. He looked up at Ryan, then at me, his wide eyes full of curiosity.

“Are we gonna see Uncle Ethan again?” Tommy asked innocently, unaware of the emotional minefield he’d just wandered into. Ryan and I both froze, staring at each other. Then, for the first time, Ryan cracked a tiny smile. It wasn’t much, but it was there.

“Maybe,” Ryan said, glancing at me. “Maybe we can try.”

I met his eyes, my chest tight with a mix of anger and hope. “Yeah,” I said quietly. “Maybe we can.”