Journey of the heart(3)

10 Years later

A New Beginning

Ten years had passed since Mya and Jaylen welcomed their son, Elijah, into the world, and life had taken on a new kind of rhythm—one that was faster, fuller, and busier than they had ever imagined. Their family had grown, their careers had flourished, and the children, Zaria and Elijah, had blossomed into their own unique selves.

Mya stood in the kitchen of their newly renovated home, the soft morning light pouring through the windows as she sipped her coffee and scrolled through emails on her tablet. The house was quiet for the moment, a rare occurrence that Mya cherished before the day kicked into high gear. Zaria, now 15, was still upstairs getting ready for school, and Elijah, now 10, was likely still asleep, needing a push to get out of bed.

The house was bigger than the one they had moved into years ago—roomier and more reflective of their success. Mya's café business had exploded in ways she hadn't anticipated. What had started as a single, cozy spot in the city had turned into a small chain with multiple locations. She was busier than ever, but there were days when the weight of managing it all felt heavy. Sometimes she missed the simplicity of running just one café, knowing every customer by name.

Jaylen, too, had found tremendous success in his real estate ventures. His portfolio now included commercial properties, investments in development projects, and even a few apartment complexes that he owned outright. Financially, they were in a place they had once only dreamed about—comfortable, secure, with more than enough to provide for their children and give them a life full of opportunities.

But with all the success came new challenges. Mya and Jaylen both felt the pull between their professional lives and the desire to be more present for their family. They had spent years building something that mattered, but as they neared their 15-year anniversary, both of them were starting to question how they wanted to live going forward.

The sound of footsteps coming down the stairs pulled Mya from her thoughts. She looked up just in time to see Zaria enter the kitchen, her long hair pulled into a neat bun, her expression thoughtful and distant—the look of a teenager who had a million things on her mind.

"Morning, baby girl," Mya said, setting her coffee down and smiling at her daughter.

"Morning, Mom," Zaria replied, though her tone was distracted. She headed to the fridge, pulling out a bottle of water and glancing at her phone as she moved.

Mya watched her daughter with a soft smile. Zaria had grown into a bright, creative young woman with a natural talent for art and design. She was passionate, driven, and full of ideas, but lately, Mya had noticed a shift. Zaria was pulling away more, spending hours in her room sketching or texting her friends. Mya understood it was a part of growing up, but it didn't make it any easier to see her little girl turning into a young woman.

"How's school going?" Mya asked, trying to engage her.

Zaria shrugged, barely looking up from her phone. "It's fine. I've got a project due next week, so I've been working on that."

"Anything I can help with?" Mya offered, hoping to draw her into conversation.

Zaria shook her head. "No, I'm good. It's just a design project for art class."

Mya nodded, sensing Zaria's need for space but still feeling the familiar tug of wanting to connect. "Alright, well, if you need anything, let me know."

Zaria nodded absently, her attention already back on her phone as she left the kitchen to finish getting ready for school.

Mya sighed softly, sipping her coffee again as she thought about the changes happening in their family. Zaria was growing up fast, and the distance between them felt more pronounced than ever. She and Jaylen had talked about it often, trying to find ways to stay connected with their daughter during these tricky teenage years.

A few minutes later, Jaylen appeared in the doorway, freshly showered and dressed for the day. He gave Mya a quick kiss on the cheek before grabbing his own coffee.

"Morning, beautiful," he said, his voice warm and full of love.

"Morning, handsome," Mya replied, smiling up at him. "Ready for another busy day?"

Jaylen chuckled, taking a sip of his coffee. "Always. But I've been thinking... we need a break. I know we've talked about it before, but with our anniversary coming up, what do you think about taking a real vacation? Something special, just the four of us."

Mya's eyes brightened at the idea. "That sounds amazing. It's been way too long since we took time off like that."

Jaylen nodded, his expression serious. "Yeah, I've been feeling it too. We've been so focused on work and keeping everything running, but we need to take a step back and just be a family for a while. I don't want to miss out on the kids growing up."

Mya's heart swelled at his words. "I've been feeling the same way. It's like we've built this amazing life, but sometimes I wonder if we're losing sight of why we started all of this in the first place."

Jaylen reached for her hand, squeezing it gently. "We'll figure it out, like we always do. Let's make our anniversary special—something that reminds us of everything we've built and everything we still want."

Mya smiled, her heart full. "I love that idea. Let's do it."

As the days passed and their anniversary approached, Mya and Jaylen began planning a trip for their family, a getaway that would allow them to reconnect and reflect on the journey they had been on together. Zaria, though hesitant at first, eventually warmed up to the idea, and Elijah was excited at the prospect of an adventure.

Mya couldn't help but feel a sense of anticipation as the trip drew closer. It felt like a chance to step back from the busyness of their lives and truly appreciate the family they had built. It also felt like a new beginning—an opportunity to redefine what mattered most to them as they moved forward.