Authors Note/dedication:
> *Author's note: Tin Man is my story, written over fourteen years. Final editing and polish were done with AI assistance.*
*This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, businesses, events, and incidents are either the products of the author's imagination or are used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or to actual places or events, is purely coincidental.*
*Song titles and lyrics referenced in this work belong to their respective songwriters, artists, and publishers, and are included in tribute.*
*For my wonderful children, who grew up right alongside this story — every piece of armor I ever wore, I wore for you, and every heart in these pages started with yours. This one's yours. It always was.*
