Dreams to vows

Chapter 22: Renewed Determination

True love stories never have endings."* — Richard Bach

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POV: Priscilla 💕

Recovery was slow but steady. The days following my health scare had been a blur of rest, doctors’ appointments, and gentle reminders from John to take it easy. The hospital stay, though short, had been a stark wake-up call for me, and as I recuperated at home, I had a lot of time to reflect.

Lying in bed with John by my side, I realized just how much I had been missing in my relentless pursuit of perfection. I had a team now, capable, talented people who were more than ready to take on responsibilities. Yet, I’d refused to let go, thinking I could manage it all. I had to do better—not just for my health, but for the future I wanted to build with John.

After a few days at home, my strength slowly returned, and I felt ready to tackle things differently. But this time, I knew I needed a plan—one that involved trusting my team and finding a balance that didn’t leave me burnt out.

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The first Monday back at the office was different. For the first time in a long while, I wasn’t overwhelmed by a mountain of tasks. Instead, I sat down with my team, something I hadn’t done in weeks, and shared my vision for the next phase of the business. I made it clear that I wasn’t going to micromanage every detail anymore—that I trusted them to take ownership of their work and deliver results.

“Bola, you’ll take point on client management,” I said during the meeting, watching her face light up. “And Lisa, you’ll oversee project execution. I’ll still be involved, of course, but from now on, I’m leaning on all of you more. We’re in this together.”

The shift in energy was palpable. My team responded with enthusiasm and a renewed sense of responsibility. And for the first time in months, I felt lighter, relieved that I no longer had to carry the weight of the business alone.

As the meeting ended and I headed back to my office, I could feel the change. It wasn’t just about delegation; it was about trusting the people I had hired to do their jobs—and to do them well. I had built this team for a reason, and now, it was time to let them shine.

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Later that week, John and I decided to take some time off. We both needed it—time away from the pressures of work to focus on each other, to reconnect, and to plan our future without the constant rush of deadlines hanging over our heads. A full week off from the business world was exactly what we needed.

We didn’t travel far, just to a quiet resort a few hours from the city. The air was fresh, the surroundings peaceful, and it felt like we were finally able to breathe.

On our first morning there, as we sat by the beach, watching the sun rise over the horizon, I couldn’t help but reflect on how far we’d come. The conversations we had that week weren’t just about work; they were about us, about what we wanted from life. We talked about our goals—both personal and professional—and how we could support each other better moving forward.

“I’ve been thinking,” John said one evening, as we sat under the stars. “Once the companies are fully merged, I’ll be able to step back more. I don’t want to spend all my time working, not when we have so much ahead of us.”

I smiled, resting my head on his shoulder. “You’ve always been good at making things work, John. But I love that you want to make more time for us.”

He nodded. “It’s not just about work anymore. We’ve both built something incredible, but I want to make sure we don’t lose sight of what’s really important.”

That was the crux of it. We were both ambitious, both driven to succeed, but we had to make room for each other in the process. We couldn’t let our careers consume us.

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By the end of the week, we both felt rejuvenated, like a new chapter was beginning. As we packed up to head back home, we set a few key goals. For me, it was about fully embracing my role as a leader, not just a worker. I would delegate more, trust my team, and step back when necessary. For John, it was about finding balance—merging his father’s company with his own and then stepping into a more strategic role, allowing him more time to focus on us.

We made a pact to support each other no matter what came next. Whether it was a new business opportunity or a personal challenge, we promised to be each other’s strongest allies.

When we got home, we returned to our lives with a new sense of purpose. The health scare had been a turning point, reminding us both of what mattered most: our partnership. We were building something together—not just in our careers, but in our lives.

And this time, we weren’t going to let the weight of the world drag us down. Together, we would rise above it, stronger than ever.