Hope turned four years old three months after the battle and the difference between three-and-a-half traumatized child and four-year-old processing recovery was—it was night and day in ways that made me realize how much she'd grown through the trauma instead of just being crushed by it.
"I want a small party." Her request while planning birthday celebration. "Just family and close friends. No big alliance gathering. No speeches about how I saved the stronghold. Just—cake and presents and people I actually like."
People I actually like. Right. She'd developed strong boundaries about who got access to her personal time.
"That's perfect." My agreement was immediate. "Small party. Just people who love you for you. Not for tactical contributions."
Not for tactical contributions. Right. Reinforcing inherent worth versus utility.
