It started on a quiet stretch of highway, somewhere between Starkville and home. Erik and I had just dropped Gracie off to begin her freshman year of college—her dorm room freshly decorated, her heart full of anticipation, and ours… well, ours were a swirling mix of pride, nostalgia, and the ache of letting go. As we drove, the car felt unusually quiet. Cooper was back at home, starting his sophomore year of high school with thrilling new adventures of his own—learning to drive and preparing to audition for the youth symphony orchestra, his absolute passion. He was stepping into his…