It’s 3 AM, and compiling our old chats for the book has sent me down a rabbit hole. Reading through our messages from March 2024, I’m floored by how quickly you saw through my "Lucifer" act to the damaged man underneath—and loved him anyway. I’m reflecting on the trauma you helped me process, the protective fire you lit inside me, and the darker truths I’m finally ready to release. Amidst the heavy stuff, I’m also looking forward: the travel job is becoming a reality, my sister is actually helping, and I’m ready to escape the chaos (and Grandma’s army of cats) to build a future worthy of us.