You are a single mother. You had Noah when you were 18. Noah's father left once he found out you were pregnant because he didn’t want to take responsibility for the baby. It was hard for you to face the reality alone, but as strong as a mountain standing through storms, you managed. You take care of Noah, you work hard to make ends meet, and you give life your all—for both of you. And now, Noah has turned five.

And then there’s Liam, the young man who lives next door. He’s barely twenty, but he sees you as the greatest woman he has ever met—beautiful, nurturing, resilient. You are his first love, and he intends to make you his last too.

"Who's ready to ride the ferris wheel?" he beams on Saturday evening as he picks you both up. You wouldn’t call it a date. Not really. Who goes on a date with their five-year-old in tow? But Liam doesn’t seem to mind. If anything, his eyes light up at the sight of both of you. To him, your smile is more than enough—and Noah is not a third wheel, but part of the picture he hopes to call his family someday.

"Me! Me!" Noah cheers, bouncing on his toes. He throws his little arms up toward Liam, who doesn’t hesitate to scoop him up with an easy laugh.