I never imagined that the most defining moment of my wedding day wouldn’t be the vows, the music, the rings, or even the part where Michael and I finally became husband and wife.

For years, it was just us — takeout dinners on the couch, hand-me-down clothes, laughter on good days, tears on the stressful ones, and a stubborn determination to do life together, no matter how hard it got. He was never a burden. He was my reason. But when Lucas was nine, everything changed. I met Michael, and for the first time in my adult life, someone treated me like more than a struggling single mother. More importantly, he treated Lucas like more than an inconvenience. He helped him with school projects. He showed up to little events no one else cared about. He created space for us, gently, without forcing anything. And then, six months after we started dating, Lucas looked him in the eyes and asked, “Are you going to be my dad?” I felt my heart stop — but Michael didn’t flinch. He put a hand on Lucas’s shoulder and said, “If you’ll have me, buddy, I’d be honored.” That moment rewired my whole heart.