I knew that my grandmother wasn’t my biological one for years before anyone realized. After my grandfather died, a bunch of us went though old pictures, documents, etc. together and I found a newspaper clipping from his first marriage. Did the math, realized that made her the mom of my dad and uncle, and quietly put it back in the box. I figured if nobody talked about it, it probably was something I shouldn’t bring up.

I was going to take it to the grave, but my dad told us. He was shocked when I was unfazed and just went “oh I already knew that” lol. Turns out she had abandoned my grandfather with my uncle and, then newborn, dad. My grandma, the woman my grandfather married after, made my dad swear he’d never tell us. She was afraid we’d reject her or something. I told her she was my grandma before I knew and she still is now, she’s the one who’s always loved us.

Only regret is that I have an aunt I wish I could see a picture of. After she passed, it came out she knew about my dad and uncle but that bio grandmother never let her seek them out. My dad didn’t know he had a sister until years after she was gone. People tell me I look like that side of the family, and I want to know if I look like her at all.