Seeking to Embrace Islam but Wondering About the Crucifixion of Jesus (Peace Be Upon Him)

As-salamu alaykum wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuh, I am a sister seriously considering accepting Islam, but there is one thing I’m finding hard to grasp-the Islamic belief that Prophet Isa (Jesus, peace be upon him) was not crucified. Back when I was in secondary school, I took Catholic classes and learned that the Crucifixion is the cornerstone of Christianity. They taught that people like John and Mary witnessed it, and there are verses where Jesus speaks while on the Cross. If the Crucifixion didn’t actually happen, it feels like Christianity’s whole foundation would fall apart. But if it really did happen, I’m confused about how that fits with what the Quran says in Surah An-Nisa (4:157) that it only appeared that way. I know that Islam doesn’t deny the importance of Jesus but instead highlights Allah’s justice and how He protected His prophets. Still, I struggle with what exactly "it only appeared so" means and how Muslims view the historical accounts and eyewitness stories. For some background, I was baptized Catholic and shared my testimony around ten years ago but haven’t really been practicing lately. My parents, who are divorced, were Catholic too, so my religious knowledge mostly comes from that. Lately, I’ve felt a strong spiritual pull toward Islam, and it’s made me want to find the truth sincerely. I’m studying the Quran using an app since I know some Arabic already. The invitation to Islam came to me suddenly about a month ago, and it’s been a tough time, especially with my other mental health challenges like autism, ADHD, and depression. My therapist thinks I might be turning to religion to cope with stress, but honestly, I feel that reconnecting with Allah is what I truly need right now. I’m currently unemployed and facing a lot of stress at home, but I feel that if I can find peace through faith, I’ll be better able to handle things and not feel so overwhelmed. I have a friend named David who is a non-practicing Catholic, and we’ve both been learning about Islam. This question about the Crucifixion is where we’re stuck. How do Muslims understand this event, especially since it’s such a key part of Christian belief and history? David trusts Catholic teaching because, in his words, "there’s an answer for every question in the Catechism." But just because there’s an answer doesn’t mean it’s the right one. JazakAllahu khairan for any advice or books you think I should read. My DMs are open if anyone wants to talk privately. I’m asking with full respect and a sincere wish to understand.