Chapter 1: The Morning of Trust
I sat on the edge of our worn-out bed in the early morning light, watching Jake sleep with the peaceful expression of someone who had never worried about paying bills or keeping promises. His face was relaxed, unburdened by the financial stress that kept me awake most nights, calculating and recalculating how we might make ends meet while pursuing his ambitious dreams.

At thirty-four, Jake still had the boyish charm that had first attracted me eight years ago when we met at a community college photography class. He could talk about his visions for the future with such passion and conviction that it was impossible not to get swept up in his enthusiasm. But somewhere along the way, his dreams had become my responsibility to fund, and his passion had become my burden to carry.