I collapsed on our kitchen floor at 38 weeks pregnant, bleeding and begging my husband Ryan to rush me to the ER, but he just fixed his blazer for his mother’s 65th birthday party, called me a dramatic attention seeker, and walked out the door without a single backward glance.

Lila graduated from high school at the top of her class.

She was class president. Captain of the soccer team. Valedictorian. She had been accepted to West Point, just like her mom and her grandpa. She was going to be a soldier. Just like she had promised.

Her graduation party was even bigger than the general’s 80th.

Everyone was there.

Her whole family. Her friends. Her teachers. Her coaches.

She stood in the middle of the backyard, wearing her cap and gown, holding her diploma, as everyone cheered for her.

Megan cried, of course.

Ethan cried too.

Ryan cried so hard Sarah had to hand him a whole box of tissues.

The general was beaming, his chest puffed out with pride, as he pinned his old West Point class ring on Lila’s finger.

"Welcome to the family, kiddo," he said, saluting her.

Lila saluted back, grinning.

That night, after the party, Lila sat on the porch with Megan, just the two of them, drinking lemonade, watching the fireflies.

"Mama?" Lila said.

"Yeah, bug?"

"I’m scared. What if I’m not good enough? What if I let you down? Let Papa down?"

Megan put her arm around her, pulling her close.

"Listen to me. You are already good enough. You are the bravest, kindest, hardest-working person I know. You don’t have to be perfect. You just have to be you. That’s all anyone ever wants. That’s all I ever wanted. No matter what happens, I will always be proud of you. Always. I love you more than anything in the whole world."

Lila leaned her head on her mom’s shoulder, closing her eyes.

"I love you too, Mama. More than anything."

A month later, they dropped Lila off at West Point.

She stood in the middle of the parade ground, in her new uniform, her hair cut short, looking small but fierce, as the upperclassmen yelled instructions at her. She didn’t flinch. She didn’t cry. She stood tall, proud, ready.

Megan, Ethan, Ryan, Sarah, Jake, and the general stood on the sidelines, watching her.

When Lila looked over and saw them, she smiled, giving them a tiny wave.

Then she turned, and marched away, with the rest of the new cadets, into her future.

The general wiped a tear from his eye.

"She’s going to be a great officer," he said. "Better than me. Better than you, Meg."