“David,” I continued, “meet Alex, your son.”

The murmurs in the room grew louder, like a wave building strength before crashing onshore. David’s face went through a series of emotions: shock, disbelief, and then a dawning realization. He glanced at Margaret, whose composure had finally shattered. Her mouth opened and closed, but no words came out.

Alex stood beside me, the spitting image of his father, with an expression that was both curious and brave. He had known about this moment, and we’d talked about what to expect. His courage was infectious.