‘Same large forehead. Similar nose. Dad’s bulging calves’: the day I met my long-lost brother

‘All I felt was excitement that somewhere across the planet I had another brother’: Melissa Noble with her Canadian brother Shawn at their brother Michael's wedding in 2023 Photograph: Supplied

“We need to talk to you about something, darling,” Dad said over dinner one evening. It was summer 2003 and Mum, Dad and I were sitting in the dim light on our family’s veranda.

“Talk to me about what?” I thought. Terrifying scenarios swirled around my head. Was Dad unwell? Did Mum have cancer?