An Unbelievable Love Story

A chance encounter at a café I was sitting at while waiting for my best friend to let me in the house (left my keys with him while I was out of town) has made a cold hearted existentialist like me wonder perhaps there might be “true love” after all. Well, “true” is relative and can be subjective at times. But for all intensive purposes, and without a better phrase to describe her story, I will concede and use the phrase “true love”.

I wanted to write down the story that this graceful women, who has long past her prime but still radiant in her own way, shared with me as she noticed the little tear in my eye while I spoke to my friend on the cell about the end of my recent relationship. I hope my memory has not faded from the café to my home (doh..i'm sitting in front of the house still can't get in with my laptop in tow), as I do not want to butcher this amazing unbelievable love story. However, the human brain and memory is a tricky little bugger, and I’m afraid I might have gotten a few details, name, places mixed up!

It is uncanny that this women’s name is Terry and his name is Nick. It reminded me of the film An Affair To Remember. I’m not sure if any of you have seen that film? A love story that I laughed at because to me that romantic “magic” was impossible in reality. Terry and Nick met as a pen pal, not unlike the online dating of present time. The short few correspondences between Terry and Nick led to nightly phone calls. Terry and Nick were both Smitten with the idea of each other, but very much afraid from many failed relationships respectively before their chance meeting. They were both skeptical about love and relationships. There was nothing that these two cannot talk about. Their conversations range from the everyday silliness, to deep philosophical discussion of life. They both felt that they have known each other for a lifetime. After a short phone courtship, they decided on a time and place to meet up. As the meet up approaches, Terry recalled being extremely nervous and scared that this man she has already developing feelings for might take one look at her, turn around and leave. Nick later expressed to Terry that he was equally nervous on their meet up. I can see a bittersweet, crooked little smirk on Terry’s face as she seemed to remember the exact feeling she had as she continued to tell the story. When Terry and Nick finally met up, their hearts were both palpitating, they are both trembling literally and metaphorically. “It was MAGIC, well at least from my end it was” smirked Terry.

Terry and Nick dated for sometime but the relationship started to feel some strain. Terry’s health had started to go down hill. Nick had notice changes in her behavior but can’t quite grasp what is going on. Perhaps it’s the unknowing of her condition, perhaps its Nicks fear of relationships, perhaps it’s a combination of a lot of issues, but Nick started to feel the need to end the relationship and so he did. Apparently, he came to that decision after thinking and agonizing over it for months. Terry was the last person on earth he wanted to hurt. In his mind, if he stayed with Terry, and the trajectory seemed to point at an end eventually, it might hurt Terry more in the long run. As hard as it is to do, Nick did it. He broke Terry’s heart.

After the breakup, Terry’s health took a turn for the worst. She was on the brink of death. Terry had a brain tumor that without being treated for so long had grown slowly altering her personality. Without being treated she will surely die. Nick found out about Terry’s illness and became frantic. He talked to her constantly. The thought of her and her situation was on his mind constantly. He started to feel all this weight on the heart he claimed to not have, he started to feel emotions he claimed he cannot feel. As Terry’s health continue to spiral down hill, so did Nick’s (as he couldn’t sleep, eat or function). Luckily, Terry was under care of a very good physician who was able to take out the brain tumor and Terry started to recover. As Terry and Nick talk and spent time after her surgery. They decided to have a proper day of celebration for her soon to be full recovery, his recent promotion, and the proper goodbye to their romantic relationship.

The pair of battle scared couple took the day to remember and celebrate. They walked around the quaint little town they were at, spontaneously visited a memorial building that was built in the 1800’s, sat at the lawn at the waterfront sharing pastry and coffee as they chatted about EVERYTHING. It’s as though all the battles between them, all the heartache that led to that point had never happened and they were back to the moment they first met. At one point Terry and Nick realized how amazing it is that chance had brought them together since apparently these two have been in the same town prior for years without meeting and just passing each other by. It’s not till years later that they met. Terry thought what are the chances, and the shear miracle that the encounter happened. Nick conveyed that Terry had set really high standards for anyone who he shall date from then on and that perhaps no one has or will be as caring and thoughtful towards Nick again. Terry choked back tears when she heard those words out of his mouth. The two later dressed to impress, had a special treat, a special tasting menu from the local secret hotspot, three hours of amazing food and conversation. After dinner they embraced, kissed for an hour knowing that it would be the last time they will be able to do that with each other. That their story would end right there. They told each other of plans to get in contact again in a months time. They told each other that their relationship was one to remember. Neither had ever had such a whirlwind relationship where emotions ran high, where they learned so much from each other, and agreed that if they could do over they would in a heart beat. No regrets, only good thoughts and memories despite all that happened. They exchanged goodbye presents, each thought of something to surprise the other person. Terry gave Nick two books that he had been eyeing when they visited a bookstore not long ago (Books of humor and philosophy). Nick gave Terry two presents as well, a book (to lift her spirits when she thinks of the world), and a piece of chocolate to remind her to eat when he isn’t there to remind her. Terry’s eyes were teary now. She continued as she wiped her eyes with her sleeve. At last, the time has come for Nick to leave. They stood in front of a cab, Nick wrapped his arms around Terry tighter then he has ever done before, they had one long deep goodbye kiss before they parted ways. Such a bittersweet moment!

Terry said, in her mind, this was the best love story that she has ever lived through. At her age, she can say that she has loved and been loved in return. I couldn’t help but cry when I think of this amazing story Terry shared with me. I am still so affected by it. I asked Terry if Nick ever called again, and whatever happened, was it all over? She smiled and said “My dear, regardless of what Nick did or did not do after we parted... My point is, that I, a women who claimed unable to love, was taught to truly love, and he who claimed to be emotionless and heartless learned that he has emotions after all. Answering your question if Nick came back? That answer my dear is irrelevant! If I told you he came back and we lived happily ever after would that make the story more of a love story? If I told you he never came back, would that change the fact that he is my one and only love? If he never came back does that suddenly discount his strong emotions for me? But let me tell you this, I will never love another man as long as I live as no other love story can be as true and sweet. Now, you my dear, need to grow, live and learn so that one day you may be able to open your self up to really love and accept another’s love as well.”

I still don’t know what to think, what to believe, such a love story is too unbelievable, it’s storybook, it’s fairytale, it’s only in movies, it’s MAGIC! But, at last, perhaps there might be something out there that warrants the title of “true love”.