August 2022 , we celebrated one year together.
A year filled with growing pains, healing hands,
and so much love.

I needed more surgery,
but you showed up for me once again,
gentle, patient, never once making me feel like too much.
You were my calm in the storm,
my softness in all the hard places.

And you turned 21.
I watched you step into yourself,
into your strength, your maturity, your quiet grace.
You were growing into a fine young man,
and I couldn’t help but admire you.

That month was a reminder:
even in pain, there was beauty.
Even in struggle, there was us.