Allison's POV
The Wisdom Blue project had finally come up for air—the last milestone clicked into place like the final piece of a puzzle.
There were still follow-ups and cross-team syncs ahead, but for now, I could breathe again.
A wave of relief rolled through me like the tide finally pulling back.
I'd earned this break.
Time with Lily was exactly what I needed.
For the next week, I devoted myself entirely to her.
We baked cookies shaped like wolves—her idea, obviously—and built blanket forts in the living room that turned into makeshift castles for bedtime stories.
She laughed until her cheeks hurt.
She told me about preschool drama like it was breaking news.
Watching her light up again felt like sunlight after weeks of cloud cover.
When I was sure Lily
