“I think I just met the happiest person in the world!”

I thought as I walked out of the hospital room with my brother. My brothers’ fiancée had just given birth to a baby girl, and she just stopped crying. She was totally unaware of the world, at peace, held in a embrace by her mothers tired arms. Was there anybody truly more happy than that baby?

We stepped outside to get some fresh air. The cool wind instantly relieved me from the warm and sterile air of the hospital.

I took out a pack of cigarettes and offered one to my brother. He accepted and we stood there for a few moments, unable to say anything to each other. My brother was getting old, but the only thing that gave away his age were those deep dark bags under his eyes which betrayed his other youthful features.

“So… Have you told mom yet?” I said, breaking the silence.

“No,” he retorted.

“Figured. Couldn’t have at least gave me a few weeks warning before calling me down to the hospital at 2am?”

“Nah. I knew you’d tell mom. She kept you close ever since you were born,” he said.

“And why would that be so bad?”

“You know why. Mom hates my fiancée.”

I took a drag from my cigarette.

“I know she hates Beatrice, but you know she’ll love that baby. How could any mother not?”

He sighed and didn’t bother to reply. We stood there in silence again.

“Listen, I know you haven’t spoke to us in almost four years… But we miss you.”

I extended my hand.

“I’ll go with you to tell mom about the baby tomorrow. Deal?”

He looked over at my extended hand. And out of nowhere, a smile broke out on his face, something I hadn’t seen in years. He shook my hand.

“Deal.”

And just like that, our family was united again.