To my parents—who never once doubted me, even when my dreams seemed absolutely ludicrous—who never once said "get a real job" when I was chasing the impossible. Thank you for letting me navigate my own path while silently standing guard, ready whenever I needed a hand to hold. Your quiet faith in me has been my greatest inheritance.

To Elisha—for listening to my voice notes at ungodly hours and reading drafts so rough they'd give you paper cuts. You're the friend who says "hell yeah you can" when I'm sure I can't. You've been more than a cheerleader; you've been the one to always remind me who I am and what I’m capable of doing whenever I felt like I was drifting.

To Mez—my morning coffee buddy for nearly a decade, watching me type away while the caffeine kicked in. You witnessed the daily grind, the moments of doubt, the breakthroughs that had me bouncing in my seat. Thanks for telling me to chase the high of doing what makes me feel alive, even when it meant I was talking about fictional people like they were real. Because to me, they were.

To Ange and Jake—you creative geniuses took the mess in my head and made it visually beautiful. From the stunning front cover to those impromptu content photoshoots where we laughed until we cried. How fortunate I am that my best friends could help me see what lived only in my mind, giving shape and color to my wildest imaginings.

To Ana—who spent Sunday mornings going for walks, listening to me rant about plot twists and fictional characters. Those rants helped spark new ideas from time to time. Your silent support in the background means more to me than you’ll ever know.

To my Booktok family—you breathed life into Nate and Nora's world and created the tidal wave that carried their story forward when I was too afraid to believe in it myself. Your comments, messages, and unwavering enthusiasm turned my private daydream into something real. Whatever heights this reaches, the foundation was built by your belief in these characters and their story.

And to everyone else who put up with my "sorry, can't make it, I'm writing" texts and my spaced-out expressions at dinner or events because I was mentally rewriting a scene—thank you for not giving up on me. Being friends with a writer when they're in the zone is like having a friend who's dating someone you never get to meet. You shared me with characters who demanded all my attention, and you did it with grace. While loving a creative spirit requires a special kind of understanding, know that your support never went unnoticed—it was the safety net that let me fly.