"robert looked at me and for just a second, he really looked at me. for the first time, i felt like we were connected by more than just blood; we were siblings sharing that unique and very special bond that only siblings can share. i let go of my protective wall and allowed myself to imagine what it would be like if he didn't have autism. we'd shoot baskets together, gripe about our parents, fight over the bathroom. if my brother was a normal kid, i could be one too."

the writer's tone in this passage is best described as
a. wishful.
b. comedic.
c. confident.
d. frightened.