Before we ever stepped onto the boat for the first time, we stayed in a quiet little hotel room in Hilton Head on our way there. The room felt a little cool from the weather outside, and the lamp gave everything a soft glow. The moment you saw the bunk beds you both scrambled toward them like you had found treasure. Juniper, you climbed straight to the top bunk and started bouncing like it was your own personal stage. Then you bumped your head on the popcorn ceiling and gave me a look of pure betrayal, as if the ceiling had broken some kind of promise. Sydney laughed so hard she almost fell off the ladder.

I remember standing there watching you both be silly and full of energy, knowing that our whole world was about to change. It was the last small, funny pause before the adventure truly began.