Journey of the heart(3)

Chapter 40: Full CircleJaylen's POV

The city was still bustling outside the window, even though it was late. Jaylen stood in the living room, looking out at the skyline. The soft glow of the streetlights below mixed with the distant sounds of car horns and the hum of city life. It had become a comforting noise over the past few months—a constant reminder that the world kept moving, even when he needed a moment to pause.

He had come a long way from the young man who had once felt trapped in his old life back in North Carolina. Now, here he was, in one of the busiest cities in the world, making moves he had once only dreamed about. But the best part of all of it wasn't his career, or the promotion, or even the success—it was coming home to Mya and Zaria every night. That was what kept him grounded.

Tonight, though, his mind felt heavy. As much as he loved New York, as much as he had embraced this new life, he couldn't shake the feeling that he was still missing something. He had put everything into his work, into building their life here, and yet, there were times when he felt like it was slipping away. Not the career, not the city, but the precious moments with his family—the ones that seemed to pass in a blink of an eye.

He glanced over at the couch where Mya was sitting, her legs tucked underneath her as she scrolled through her phone. She looked up and smiled at him, her eyes filled with that familiar warmth that always made him feel like everything would be okay.

"Everything alright?" Mya asked, setting her phone aside and tilting her head slightly.

Jaylen walked over and sat next to her, leaning his head back against the couch. "Yeah, just thinking."

Mya shifted closer, resting her head on his shoulder. "About work?"

Jaylen shook his head. "Nah. About us. About Zaria. About how fast everything's moving, and how sometimes I feel like I'm not slowing down enough to enjoy it."

Mya stayed quiet for a moment, her hand gently rubbing his arm. "I get it, Jay. Life's been moving at a crazy pace since we moved here. But we've been doing a good job of finding time for each other, haven't we?"

Jaylen nodded. "Yeah, we have. But I keep thinking about Zaria. She's growing so fast, Mya. I don't want to miss anything. I don't want to wake up one day and realize I missed all the little moments because I was too caught up in work or in everything else."

Mya lifted her head, looking at him with that thoughtful expression he knew so well. "I've been thinking about that too, actually. We've both been busy with work, and I know we're doing it for her, for us, but... maybe we need to figure out how to slow down a little."

Jaylen exhaled, feeling a sense of relief wash over him. "I don't want to slow down my career. But I do want to make sure I'm more present. I don't want Zaria's memories of me to be just me rushing in and out of the door."

Mya smiled softly, leaning in to kiss his cheek. "We'll figure it out, Jay. We always do."

Her words comforted him, but they also made him think. Jaylen had been reflecting a lot lately—about how hard they had worked to get to this point, about the sacrifices they had made to build this life. It was worth it, but he knew now that there had to be a better way to find balance.

He turned to Mya, his expression thoughtful. "What if we start taking more intentional time for us? For Zaria? We've been good about carving out space for our relationship, but I think we need to do the same with her. Maybe take a day every week to just focus on family—no work, no distractions. Just us."

Mya's eyes lit up at the suggestion. "I love that idea. I think we all need it."

Jaylen smiled, the weight on his shoulders easing a little more. "Good. We'll make it happen."

The following weekend, Jaylen put his plan into action. It was Saturday, and instead of spending the day catching up on work or running errands, he had planned a day out for the three of them—just him, Mya, and Zaria. No distractions, no phones, no work talk. Just family time.

They started with a walk through Central Park, Zaria's tiny hands reaching for the falling leaves as they strolled along the path. Jaylen pushed the stroller, but every now and then, he would lift Zaria out and carry her on his shoulders, her giggles filling the crisp autumn air. Mya walked beside them, her laughter blending with Zaria's as they watched the city come alive around them.

It was one of those perfect days—where the sky was clear, the air was just cool enough, and everything felt peaceful. For the first time in a long while, Jaylen felt like time had slowed down. He wasn't thinking about work, or the pressures of the city, or the future. He was just here, with his family, in the moment.

They stopped for lunch at a small café near the park, one of those hole-in-the-wall places that had the best food Jaylen had tasted since moving to New York. Zaria sat in her high chair, babbling away between bites of her grilled cheese, and Mya looked across the table at Jaylen with a look that said she was just as content as he was.

"You know," Mya said, her voice soft, "I think this is the best decision we've made since moving here."

Jaylen raised an eyebrow. "What? Taking the day off?"

Mya smiled, shaking her head. "No, moving to New York. It hasn't been easy, but look at us. We've built something beautiful here."

Jaylen glanced at Zaria, who was now happily playing with her sippy cup, and then back at Mya. "Yeah, we have. I didn't know if it was the right move at first, but now... I can't imagine being anywhere else."

Mya reached across the table, taking his hand. "Me neither."

Later that evening, after they had returned home and Zaria was asleep, Jaylen sat on the porch of their apartment, looking out at the city lights. Mya joined him a few minutes later, wrapping a blanket around her shoulders as she sat beside him.

Jaylen glanced over at her, a soft smile playing on his lips. "I think today was exactly what we needed."

Mya nodded, leaning her head against his shoulder. "It was perfect. I love days like this—when it's just us."

Jaylen wrapped his arm around her, pulling her closer. "We need more of them. I don't want to get so caught up in everything else that I forget what really matters."

Mya smiled, her eyes closing as she rested against him. "We'll make sure that doesn't happen."

They sat in comfortable silence for a while, the sounds of the city filling the air around them. Jaylen's mind wandered back to the life they had left behind in North Carolina—the quiet, the simplicity of their old routine. But as he looked out at the skyline, at the vibrant city they now called home, he realized that they had found something even more special here.

Life wasn't simple anymore. It was busy, chaotic, and sometimes overwhelming. But it was also full of love, growth, and possibility. They had built something beautiful in New York, and Jaylen knew that no matter what came next, they were ready for it.

Because they were a team—he and Mya. And with Zaria growing up in a world where they could give her the best of both their love and their time, Jaylen knew they were building a future that was worth every sacrifice, every challenge.

As he held Mya close, the city lights twinkling in the distance, Jaylen felt a sense of peace settle over him. They had come full circle, finding balance in the middle of the chaos, and now, they were exactly where they were meant to be.

Together.

And that made everything worth it.