First Touch

From What-Ifs to What-Is

Nova, realizing the day was nearly over, hurried to the bathroom to make sure her face

looked presentable before returning to her workspace. More than that, she wanted a

quiet moment to thank God for bringing William into her life. The thought of him stirred

something so deep within her that words failed. She knew that unless she calmed her

racing mind, finishing the day’s tasks would feel endless.

It took what felt like forever to still her thoughts enough to return to her profession. Yet

one idea kept pressing forward, one she had tried to reserve for later: Oh my God… I’m

actually going to be with William for the first time! Please help me stay calm, and help

me be true to who I am when I meet him. The thought thrilled her and unsettled her all

at once. Restlessness surged inside, threatening to derail her focus. Thankfully, her

professional side—the part of her that had carried her through countless high-stakes

moments—rose to steady her.

“Nova, you’ve got this,” she whispered to her reflection. “You’ve been in meetings where

the stakes were high, and you’ve walked into dreams from a distance. This is no

different… well, maybe a little different.” She smiled at herself. “William is a dream that’s

finally arrived. But first, you’ve got to finish this day. You can do it, girl. You’ve got this.

Now… go close out your work, and we’ll think about the date afterwards.”

The pep talk worked—at least for the moment. She was grateful the company had

private bathrooms; otherwise, she might have been mortified trying to explain why she

was talking to herself. She imagined coworkers walking in and overhearing her inner

dialogue spilling out loud, and the thought made her laugh softly. That laugh steadied

her, giving her enough calm to return to her desk.

Checking her phone, she gasped. “What time is it? Oh wow… five minutes turned into

thirty-five!” She braced herself, expecting her staff to be lined up with questioning looks,

ready to interrogate her absence. But when she stepped back into the office, everyone

was absorbed in their work. Nova rarely took breaks, let alone long ones, so she

expected judgment. Instead, she saw only concern from a few staff members, their eyes

quietly asking if she was alright. She offered an apologetic smile, and when they saw

she seemed fine, their relief showed as they returned to their tasks.

Aria, however, gave her a look that spoke volumes: Okay… you KNOW we’re going to

talk, right? Nova caught her friend’s eyes, recognizing the way she was trying to read

her emotional temperature. She smiled, and Aria responded with a playful “air check,” a

silent signal that translated to conversation is in our future, girlfriend. The gesture nearly

made Nova laugh out loud.

Orion wasn’t about to wait for an update and had already started toward me when

Sarah tugged on his coat. “Focus, Orion! She doesn’t have time for a long conversation.

Do you see the clock? Are you ready to stop for the day?” He opened his mouth to

protest, but Sarah cut him off. “Exactly! Back to work, Orion. I mean it!”

Everyone knew Sarah carried the spirit of Richard the Lionheart—fearless, decisive,

and the Beta of this wolf pack. Orion, reluctant but obedient, blew a kiss in my direction,

touched his heart, and mouthed, “I got you!” before returning to his desk. If we hadn’t

been pressed for time, I would have gladly shared a moment with him, but Sarah’s

instinct for consideration was right—sometimes space was the greatest kindness. I

nodded my thanks to her and hurried back to my desk.

Time was short—ten minutes at most before Henry rallied the office again. I quickly

wrapped up the last tasks on my list: scheduling meetings for the week after January 1,

updating the team calendar, and jotting down action points for Quantum Edge Media’s

vision to hit the new year running. To an outsider, it might have looked like a lot to

accomplish in ten minutes, but in truth, most of it was already prepared. All I needed

was to send out the emails drafted earlier that week and confirm tasks due within the

next two weeks.

With a minute to spare, Henry rang the bell, calling the office to attention.

“Alright folks, let’s give a round of applause for the end of not only the last day of the

year, but a record-breaking year of goals accomplished!”

He barely finished before the room erupted in cheers that seemed to go on forever.

Pride swelled in me too—our hard work had paid off, and the success was undeniable.

Henry raised his voice again, trying to calm the crowd. “I don’t know if everyone finished

what they needed today, but as your boss I’ll just say this: the work year is done!” More

cheers followed, louder than before. Realizing quieting us was pointless, Henry grinned

and shouted, “Happy New Year’s Eve, everyone! See you at the party tonight—now get

out of here!”

On cue, the receptionist blasted “I’ve Got a Feeling” by the Black Eyed Peas, and the

office instantly shifted into pre-party mode. Everyone seemed to know the song, though

not everyone could sing it well. Those who didn’t know all the lyrics belted out the parts

they did—loud, off-key, and hilarious. The atmosphere was electric.

We hugged, exchanged high fives and handshakes, and made our way toward the

elevators, laughter echoing through the halls. The night ahead promised to be

unforgettable.

As I gathered my belongings to leave, Aria leaned over with a grin. “Nova, you’re still

coming to the party, right? I know it would’ve been better if William was there, but I

promise we’ll still have a good time.”

“I’m definitely coming, Aria. I wouldn’t miss it for the world now!” I replied, raising my

voice over the music as we both hurried to finish up.

“Glad to hear it, girlfriend. Did you get a chance to tell William about the party?” she

asked.

“I did,” I said, a flutter rising in my chest.

“I’m sure he’d be here if he could. Did he already have plans for tonight?”

“Yep!” I answered quickly, my excitement bubbling over. Before she could ask another

question, I blurted out, “He’ll be at the party tonight!” The words came out louder than I

intended, straight from the core of my being.

“What???” Aria froze, eyes wide. “You’re joking! When? Details, girl… details!” She

stopped what she was doing, determined to get the full story.

I was about to answer when Olivia, already heading out the door, called back, “Aria, the

day is done! I know you’re not trying to do more work. Let’s go to the party, girlfriend!”

She glanced at me and added warmly, “She’s right… let’s go. But I want full disclosure

later! Oh Nova, I’m so happy for you!”

Even in the chaos, Aria ran over and gave me the sweetest hug. “See you tonight,

Nova. It’s going to be so much fun for you now!”

“I know, right? See you later!” I replied, feeling like a schoolgirl getting ready for prom.

Deep down, I knew this night would change everything—and hopefully for the better.

The party energy had been building ever since Henry declared, “…this work year is

done!” It truly had been an incredible year. For a company to achieve excellence in such

a short time was no small feat. I had never worked with a group of professionals who

not only excelled but genuinely enjoyed coming to work, treating each project like a

child raised from birth to young adulthood. Seeing hard work and creativity pay off in

such huge ways gave us all reason to be proud.

Finally, I made it to the parking lot and started the drive home. That’s when it hit me—I

hadn’t planned on going anywhere for New Year’s Eve. I hadn’t shopped for a new outfit

or even thought about it. “What am I going to do?” I muttered to myself.

The realization deflated me. Finding a decent dress on New Year’s Eve seemed

impossible; most people prepared weeks in advance. And if I did find something, it

probably wouldn’t be my style. Then I thought of William. He would almost certainly be

dressed well—he always was. Even on FaceTime, his casual look carried an effortless

polish that impressed me every time.

I wasn’t a slouch by any means, but I didn’t want to show up in professional work attire.

This night was supposed to be about fun—and more than that, it was the first time I’d

meet William in person. I wanted that moment to be unforgettable for both of us. The

thought of not having something to wow him hurt my heart, and tears began to stream

down my cheeks.

But then, a thought came that shifted my mood.

“William never made it an issue about what I wore. He’s drawn to me. Even if I showed

up in jeans and a t-shirt, he wouldn’t be disappointed. If he judged me only by my outfit,

he could have saved the money on the plane ticket. There has to be more to him than

that—and I need to give him the chance to prove it.”

That train of thought calmed me, and I knew it was God stilling my heart, reminding me

not to fill this night with endless what ifs.

“Thank You, God,” I whispered, feeling a wave of peace settle over me—the first real

calm I’d felt since speaking with William earlier. Hope rose within me, and I prayed that

tonight I would be true to who I am and simply enjoy meeting him for the first time.

On the drive home, I decided to lean into the party mood. I turned on the radio, singing

along with the rhythms of time, then opened my YouTube app to replay the song that

had blasted through the office as we left. That’s when an inspiring thought struck me.

“Oh my God! I almost forgot—I bought an outfit just for meeting William! It’s gorgeous

and perfect for tonight!” I shouted in triumph, relief flooding me. Everything I needed

was already waiting; all that remained was to go home and prepare. My heart lifted, and

I cranked up the music, singing loudly, knowing that while William would be happy to

see me no matter what I wore, I was thrilled to present myself in a way that made me

feel confident and joyful.

As the music played, gratitude poured out of me. “Father, You’ve always looked out for

me. I’ve tried to live in a way that honors You and shows my love for You. Tonight, I ask

that You keep me in Your arms. Thank You for this embrace of kindness.”

I turned the music down, continuing to offer thanks for this special touch in my life, my

spirit steady and expectant for what the night would bring.