What is love?...
My fiance ran into an old friend today. He's a man much older, in his late 40s, but has always had a fondness for Mohammed and he asked if he would come and sit with him in the social gathering spot in town. So they sat and they talked. They talked about life. They talked about me and Mohammed and our plans. He had seen us walking together there many times.
"Why did you never marry?" Mohammed asked the man.
The man slumped a bit, his eyes becoming wet.
"I had a very deep love relationship with a girl when I was in college," he explained. "We were closer then 2 people can be. We planned to marry. My father said I was too young for marriage and forced me to wait a year. Her father married her to another man."
Mohammed asked him again, "But why did you never marry? She did."
The man drew his breath and said, "Son, look at the woman sitting behind you. That's her. Every day for more then 20 years I come to this place and sit so I can see her. When I see her sons, now almost your age, I want to hug them and feel like they are my own. I could never bear to look at another woman but her."
"You did this for 20 years.... my gosh," Mohammed sighed.
"Yes, and I will for 20 more. Mohammed, you have this same love still in your hands. You have to respect it. Honor it. Fight for it. Keep it."
Mohammed called me tonight a broken man. He told me if the cards are not in our favor, he will be this man, sitting alone year after year, not wanting to look anywhere but at what could have been. I assured him he won't be sitting alone... ever.
I found the man's story touching. What a heart he must have. Makes you think... Hope you don't mind me sharing it.
