“She is here, and she is so beautiful,” I whispered, completely out of breath.

“Lucas, come over here and hold your daughter.”

My brother walked over slowly, moving like a man struggling to step through deep water.

The nurse carefully wrapped the baby girl in a warm blanket, placed her in his arms, and stepped outside to leave us alone.

I watched my twin brother look down at his newborn daughter, expecting to see tears of joy on his face.

Instead, his expression transformed into something cold and vacant, like a light suddenly going out behind his eyes.