My first day as office manager was a Monday in October.
Exactly one month after my wedding was supposed to happen.
I got there at seven. I sat in my car in that same parking lot for a minute. Same brick building. Same windows.
Except now, there was a little brass nameplate on the door of the office right behind the front desk.
Natalie Brooks. Office Manager.
Dr. Bennett had it made as a surprise.
There were hard days that first month. Unhappy patients. A hygienist who quit with no notice. A computer system that crashed on the busiest Friday of the year.
I made mistakes. I learned from them.
But every single one of those problems was mine. I chose them.
The night before I started, I opened my calendar.
The entry for the Monday after my wedding was still there. I’d never deleted it.
First day of married life.
I deleted it.
Then I typed in a new one.
Office manager training. 9:00 a.m.
I set my phone down on the kitchen table, next to the little white ring box I still hadn’t figured out what to do with.
And I thought about everything I’d learned standing in that church hallway in my wedding dress.
Love isn’t proven by how much you’re willing to give up.
It’s proven by whether anybody bothers to ask.
Seth didn’t forget to ask me.
He decided not to.
He was counting on marrying me before I ever had the chance to say no.
He was wrong.
I had the chance.
And I took it.
Sophia Rivers is an experienced News Content Editor with a sharp eye for detail and a passion for delivering accurate and engaging news stories. At TheArchivists, she specializes in curating, editing, and presenting news content that informs and resonates with a global audience.
Sophia holds a degree in Journalism from the University of Toronto, where she developed her skills in news reporting, media ethics, and digital journalism. Her expertise lies in identifying key stories, crafting compelling narratives, and ensuring journalistic integrity in every piece she edits.
Known for her precision and dedication to the truth, Sophia thrives in the fast-paced world of news editing. At TheArchivists, she focuses on producing high-quality news content that keeps readers informed while maintaining a balanced and insightful perspective.
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