Journey of the heart(3)

Chapter 37: The Weight of ResponsibilityJaylen's POV

Jaylen leaned back in his office chair, rubbing his eyes as the late afternoon sun streamed through the large windows of his office. He had been staring at spreadsheets and project timelines for hours, and his mind felt like it was swimming in numbers. The demands of his new position had been relentless, and while he had expected it to be a lot, some days it felt like too much.

He glanced at the clock. Almost 6 p.m. He had planned to leave early today, to surprise Mya and Zaria and spend a little extra time at home. But, as usual, the day had slipped away from him. He hadn't realized how quickly the hours had passed until now, and guilt tugged at him. He missed his girls—he missed the simplicity of just being with them, away from the noise of work and the constant pressure to perform.

Jaylen picked up his phone and sent a quick text to Mya.

Jaylen: "Running a little late again. Sorry. How are you and Zaria?"

Her reply came within minutes.

Mya: "We're good! Zaria's been talking nonstop today—she's getting better at saying 'dada,' which means you're in trouble. 😅 No worries about being late. We'll see you when you get home. Love you."

Jaylen smiled, despite the fatigue that weighed on him. Just the thought of Zaria babbling away at home, practicing her words, made his heart feel lighter. He missed so much during the day, and each missed moment felt like a little more time lost. He couldn't remember the last time he had been home early enough to have dinner with his family, and that fact gnawed at him.

Shutting his laptop, Jaylen decided enough was enough for today. The work would still be there tomorrow. What mattered right now was getting home, being present with his family, and finding some balance in the chaos.

By the time Jaylen walked through the door of their apartment, it was almost dark. The soft sound of the TV filled the living room, and the familiar sight of Mya sitting on the couch, Zaria playing beside her, instantly relaxed him. Zaria spotted him first, her little face lighting up with pure joy as she toddled over on unsteady legs.

"Dada!" Zaria squealed, her arms outstretched as she made her way to him.

Jaylen's heart melted. He scooped her up, spinning her around and pressing a kiss to her cheek. "There's my girl! How's daddy's princess doing?"

Zaria giggled, her tiny hands grabbing at his shirt, and Jaylen couldn't help but smile. This—this was what made everything worth it. Coming home to his family, to the pure love and joy that Zaria radiated, made the long hours at work seem distant, almost insignificant.

Mya stood up, walking over to greet him with a soft smile. "Hey, stranger. How was work?"

Jaylen sighed, shaking his head. "Busy, as always. I feel like I'm drowning in spreadsheets. But I missed you both too much to stay any longer."

Mya's smile softened, and she reached up to kiss him. "I'm glad you're home. We missed you too."

They spent the next hour together, catching up on their day while Jaylen played with Zaria. The simple routine of family life brought Jaylen a peace he couldn't find anywhere else. But even as he enjoyed the moment, there was a part of him that felt the weight of his responsibilities creeping back in. The pressure to succeed at work, to be the provider and the strong foundation for his family, never really went away.

Later, after Zaria was asleep and the apartment was quiet again, Jaylen sat on the couch with Mya, the two of them wrapped in a familiar comfort. Mya rested her head on his shoulder, her fingers tracing small circles on his arm. They didn't need words; the silence between them was easy, filled with the understanding that came from years of loving each other.

But after a while, Jaylen broke the silence. "Mya... I've been thinking about work."

Mya shifted slightly, lifting her head to look at him. "What about it?"

Jaylen took a deep breath, running his hand over his face before speaking. "I don't know. I feel like I'm constantly running on empty. I love what I'm doing, and the promotion was everything I worked for, but... I miss being home. I miss you and Zaria. It feels like I'm missing out on so much, and I don't want that."

Mya's eyes softened, and she sat up, turning to face him more fully. "Jay, you're doing your best. I see how hard you're working, and I know it's a lot. But you're not missing out. Zaria knows how much you love her, and I know how much you love us. We're a team, remember? You don't have to carry all of this by yourself."

Jaylen nodded, though the guilt still tugged at him. "I just don't want to be the kind of dad who's never around. I don't want Zaria growing up and thinking I wasn't there for her. And I don't want to take us for granted either."

Mya smiled softly, reaching for his hand. "You won't be, Jay. You're here. Even when you're at work, I know you're doing it for us—for our future. But maybe it's time we figure out how to balance things better. We can set boundaries, make sure we're prioritizing time together as a family. You don't have to do everything perfectly, and you don't have to do it all alone."

Jaylen exhaled, feeling some of the weight lift from his shoulders. Mya always knew how to bring him back, how to ground him when everything else felt overwhelming. She was right—they could figure this out together. He didn't have to carry the burden of work and family all by himself.

"You're right," Jaylen said, his voice quieter now. "I've been putting too much pressure on myself. I just don't want to let you down."

Mya shook her head, her eyes filled with love. "You could never let me down, Jay. We're in this together. We'll figure out what works for us, and we'll make it happen. But don't carry all this guilt. You're doing an amazing job."

Jaylen's heart swelled with gratitude, and he leaned in to kiss her. "I don't know what I'd do without you."

Mya smiled against his lips. "Good thing you never have to find out."

They spent the rest of the night talking about how to make things work, about finding time for each other and for Zaria, and about how they could navigate Jaylen's demanding job without letting it consume their lives. It wasn't going to be easy, but knowing that they were in it together made Jaylen feel more hopeful.

By the time they went to bed, Jaylen felt lighter than he had in weeks. The pressure was still there, the responsibilities didn't disappear, but he knew he wasn't alone in carrying them.

And as he wrapped his arms around Mya, feeling the warmth of her body next to his, Jaylen realized that no matter how hard things got, they would always find their way. Together.

Because with Mya by his side and Zaria growing more every day, Jaylen knew that he was exactly where he was supposed to be.

And that was enough.