She was a troubled young woman when she went on her first vacation overseas. Her family were gravely disappointed in her, and felt deeply shamed, that she had been dating a guy who was not of their religion. She on the other hand, had felt loved and cherished by him, and his family, in  ways that she had not previously experienced, not even within her family of origin. 

So she decided to travel. Encouraged by a dear friend, she gathered herself together, booked a flight to a far away place, somewhere she had never been, hoping that a change of atmosphere might clear her head, give her some respite from all the family commotion.

It had been four days since she arrived in London, and she still felt overwhelmed about the way things had happened and about the deep sorrow she felt, she couldn’t believe things could be that bad. She went to the beach to find some peace, trying to find a way to sort things out. The last thing she wanted to do was to let her family down, they meant so much to her, but she couldn’t believe they were so racist, and she felt so bad about the way they treated her boyfriend. They told her she must give him up because he doesn’t belong to their religion, and that they will never accept him. She felt very confused, one minute she wanted to run away with her man and never look back, but then she thought about her family. She could never live without them.  

Her head was cluttered with thoughts of whether to give up the love of her life or to give up her family. Her family meant so much to her. She couldn’t imagine life without them.  She had met James without her family knowing and if she was completely honest with herself, her conscience had not been peaceful. Telling white lies, avoiding answers to her parents, keeping secrets from her closest girlfriends,  she was beginning to wonder who she was. She had lost the feeling of self. 

That evening she thought about all that had happened, over and over again. Then she decided she wasn’t going to give up, she loved him too much to let him go. She booked a flight straight  home that very moment, she felt she must stand up to her parents and explain how much love she carries for him. She wanted to tell them everything she had hidden deep down and how she felt she can’t live without him, how good he is for her, and how devoted he is to her. The moment she arrived home all the negotiations started with her parents, which ended with their approval of the relationship on the condition that she remains within her religion and not change it.

Love conquers all.