The morning started with pancakes shaped like stars, a sparkly pink backpack, and Will trying very hard not to cry when Lyra asked him to braid her hair. Eliza stood nearby, organizing lunch items with military precision, her smile tight, eyes already suspiciously glassy.
"You okay?" Will asked under his breath.
"I'm fine," she said, placing a note inside Lyra's lunchbox. It read: You are brave, bold, and kind. Love, Mama. She stared at it a beat longer than necessary before closing the lid.
At the school gates, Lyra didn't cry. She marched right in, bunny in one arm, the other waving back at them confidently as her curls bounced.
Eliza smiled until the door closed.
Then came the flood.
Will barely had time to unlock the car before she was covering her face with both hands, crying in earnest. It wasn't loud or messy—but deeply felt. Like something had cracked open inside her.
"She didn't even hesitate," she said between tears. "She just… walked away."
Will reached over, pulled her into his chest, and kissed the top of her head.
"I know, I know," he murmured. "It's almost like she's ready for the world or something. Who raised that kind of wild spirit?"
Eliza sniffled. "Apparently, we did."
"She didn't cry," he teased. "You're crying more than she did."
"I know," she groaned. "It's embarrassing."
Will chuckled. "If you miss her that much already, we could always make more."
Eliza paused mid-sniff, then glanced up, teary but smiling. "You're terrible."
He smirked. "You love it."
She did. She loved him.
Back at home, she curled up with him on the couch, burrowing into his warmth like it could fill the empty space Lyra had left for the day.
After a while, she sat up and wiped her face.
"I'm not going to the office today."
"No?"
"No. I'm going to make her something special. Maybe her favorite cookies. And a little card."
"You sure?" he asked. "I can still do pickup."
"Nope. I want to go with you. She'll have two arms to run into."
Will nodded, smiling. "She's going to love that."
Eliza spent the rest of the morning baking, cutting shapes into fruit, and decorating a "You survived your first day!" card. She poured herself into it like it was a presentation for the board—only this one ended with glittery stickers and sparkly markers.
When it was time to go, she held Will's hand a little tighter as they stood outside the gates again, waiting.
And then—Lyra came running.
Eliza knelt, arms open, and caught her little girl in the biggest hug.
"I missed you," she whispered.
Lyra patted her cheek like she was the adult. "I didn't cry, Mama. I was brave."
"I know," Eliza said, her throat tight again. "You were amazing."
Will, watching them both, smiled quietly to himself.
Some milestones hurt. But they also made room for more love.