Dreams to vows

Chapter 5: Hitting Rock Bottom

*"When everything seems to be going against you, remember that the airplane takes off against the wind, not with it."* - Henry Ford

POV: Priscilla

I sat at my cluttered desk, the dim light of my laptop casting a glow over my determined face. My eyes darted across the screen as I reviewed the final proposal I had crafted for a promising consulting job with a major tech company. The past few weeks had been grueling as I meticulously researched, planned, and strategized, pouring my heart into this opportunity. The job wasn't just a paycheck; it was a chance to prove myself, to take a meaningful step towards my dream of owning my own consulting firm.

As I clicked 'Send' and watched the proposal leave my outbox, I felt a wave of optimism. For the first time in a while, the future didn't seem so daunting. If I landed this contract, I would have the credibility and capital to start building my brand. I leaned back in my chair, allowing myself a rare moment of satisfaction. My phone buzzed with a message, jolting me from my thoughts.

**John:** *How's it going? Finished your proposal?*

I smiled at the text, my fingers quickly tapping a response.

**Priscilla:** *Just sent it off. Fingers crossed!*

**John:** *You've got this. I know you do.*

His words, though simple, felt like a comforting embrace. John had been my anchor lately, a constant source of encouragement when the self-doubt crept in. Our friendship had deepened over the past few months, and though I sometimes wondered if there could be something more, I pushed those thoughts aside for now. There were bigger things at stake, and I needed to stay focused.

I closed my laptop and stood up, stretching out the tension in my shoulders. I glanced at the clock-nearly midnight. I had been so engrossed in my work that I hadn't noticed how late it had gotten. I shuffled to the tiny kitchen of my apartment, grabbed a glass of water, and let my mind wander. In the quiet of the night, I allowed myself to dream a little. This contract could be the breakthrough I needed.

The next morning, I woke up to a cloudy sky, a fitting backdrop for the nervous anticipation churning in my stomach. I checked my phone obsessively, waiting for an email or a call that would change my life. I had heard that the company would make a decision quickly-they wanted to start the project as soon as possible. The hours dragged on, each one heavier than the last.

By late afternoon, my phone finally buzzed. My heart leaped as I saw the caller ID, it was the tech company. I took a deep breath and answered, trying to keep my voice steady.

"Hello, this is Priscilla," I said, my voice betraying the excitement I tried to contain.

"Hi Priscilla, this is Bryan from Xfix Tech," the voice on the other end began. "First of all, thank you so much for your proposal. We were really impressed with the depth of your analysis and the creative solutions you proposed."

My heart raced. This was it. I could almost hear the "but" coming, though I prayed it wouldn't.

"Unfortunately..." Bryan continued, and I felt my chest tighten, "we've decided to go with another consulting firm. They have a long-standing relationship with us and have more extensive experience in handling projects of this scale. It was a tough decision, but we felt it was the safest choice for our company at this time."

The words hit me like a physical blow. I forced myself to respond, my voice barely above a whisper. "I understand. Thank you for considering me."

"Keep us in mind for future projects," Bryan added, his tone polite but final.