No one my age had ever made me feel that my future could extend beyond the workshop, the debts, and the dry land surrounding our house, and with it I finally believed that I could become something more than what I had always known.
And yes, I fell in love with her in a way that had nothing to do with money, comfort, or appearances, because I fell in love with the way she listened to me as if I mattered.
When I told my family about my decision, they erupted in anger and disbelief that shook the entire house.
“That woman has you completely manipulated,” my aunt snapped while crossing her arms tightly.
“You’re looking for a mother figure, not a wife,” my cousin added with open contempt.
“He’ll use you and discard you when he gets bored,” my father said with a mixture of anger and disappointment that hurt me more than the insults.
Despite everything they said, I stood firm and defended her time and time again, even when the whole town labeled me as desperate, foolish, or greedy for pursuing a life beyond my rightful place.
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