A few years ago, I stumbled across my dad’s old email account (don’t ask why, long story). While scrolling through, I found emails from a woman calling him “husband,” with pictures of kids who looked just like me and my siblings—except I’d never seen them in my life.

At first, I thought it was an affair, but nope—it was way worse. Turns out he’s married to this woman in another state, and they have a whole family together. The emails weren’t sketchy either, just normal stuff like planning birthdays and vacations. It’s like he’s been living two separate lives.

I’ve never told anyone. Not my mom, not my siblings, no one. I’m terrified of what this would do to my family, especially my mom.