At seventeen, I believed love could overcome anything. When my high school boyfriend was seriously injured in a winter car accident and left paralyzed, my parents urged me to walk away and focus on college and career plans. Instead, I chose to stay. Their response was harsh: financial support ended, and contact stopped. I moved in with his family, worked part-time jobs, attended community college, and learned how to help him navigate his new reality. Life was difficult, but together we built something steady, eventually marrying and welcoming a son. Even without my parents’ support, I believed our commitment proved love could survive the hardest trials.
Fifteen years passed with ordinary struggles and small victories. My husband built a remote career in IT, and we managed the daily challenges of work, parenting, and finances. I still missed my parents, but I told myself the sacrifice had been worth it. We had endured so much already, and I felt certain our bond was built on honesty and loyalty. I thought the worst was long behind us.
