Ivy grew up learning to navigate a childhood shaped by absence. Her parents never fully disappeared, but as they built new families and routines, Ivy slowly stopped being part of their world. By the time she turned ten, both had remarried and welcomed new children, leaving Ivy feeling like an afterthought. When they finally decided she should live with her Aunt Carol “for a while,” they packed her things into trash bags and left—unaware that this “temporary” arrangement would change her life. Aunt Carol offered the stability Ivy had long been denied. She created a safe home, nurtured Ivy’s love for art, and reminded her daily that she was worthy. Under her aunt’s steady encouragement, Ivy flourished.