After the long storm, that morning, the sun shone a little brighter, the clouds thickened with anticipation, and the waves of laughter were heard a little louder.

That particular day, Abraham, Melisa, and a couple close friends escaped from tight deadlines to stay in a friend’s house. They, being designers and photographers, had fun taking pictures with Melisa, who just finished her 17th radiation treatment to fight her cancer, or at least that’s what Melisa thought.

Abraham and Melisa were doing funny poses when Abraham suddenly proposed. He was on his knees, hands holding a small wooden box which was carved with a question "Melisa, will you marry me?" When he opened it, a simple diamond ring gleamed inside.

The world zoomed in to only the two of them. Their friends’ loud cheers faded out in their ears. Both of them couldn’t speak a single word.

Melisa was so scared that she couldn’t control her expression. She was afraid that she’s not completely healthy. She was afraid that she couldn’t be a strong wife for him. Her tears started dropping.

Abraham, on the other hand, looked at her with a mix of love and determination. It’s almost like he’s saying I love you. I want to fight with you. We must be strong. Giving up is not an option.

____

Abraham believes nothing can break their love, “We have committed to walk together with God all our lives.”

They’re so compatible with each other that they must’ve been soulmates. The way they look at the world, their love for music, the time they like to come to the office, down their gadget choice–everything about them is similar. Every quality on their lists, even the forgotten ones, were ticked.

However, their different ethnicities and religions didn’t tick their parents’ list of ideal son and daughters in-law. That’s why they knew a tough journey is ahead of them. They had no idea the journey is going to be harder.