A Love Story

A Love Story
Heartbeats by Rev. Fr. Philip Vincent S. Sinco

At last, my love has come along
My lonely days are over
And life is like a song
Oh, yeah, at last
The skies above are blue
My heart was wrapped up in clovers
The night I looked at you
I found a dream that I could speak to
A dream that I can call my own
I found a thrill to rest my cheek to
A thrill that I have never known
Oh, yeah when you smile, you smile
Oh, and then the spell was cast
And here we are in heaven
For you are mine
At last

- Etta James, At last

I am a self-confessed hopeless romantic. I usually get this giddy feeling every time I watch dreamy love stories on the boob tube or listen to soul-gripping ballads on the radio. At times, it’s nice to lose myself to every scenes of the movie or to every lyrics of the song because I am constantly presented with the many facets of love---the joy, the fulfilment, the confusion, the loneliness, the pain, and the anger it brings. But just when I thought that I already had this utter indulgence on the quintessential longing of the human heart and spirit, there is still so much to learn, especially if you deal with love in real life.

I am saying this because I was reminded of a couple I met a year ago. In my own experience, perhaps I can say that they are regarded as the most bizarre yet if there’s one great love story ever told, it would have to be theirs, since they have stood all the dire odds just to fight for each other. They have shown me that love is not just an implied sentiment that can satisfy one’s yearning for companionship, but a journey that defies time and circumstance, liberating an individual from all the suspicions of this seemingly disapproving world, leading him to truth and serenity.

Allow me to share to you their story:

He’s 75 and she’s 50. They have been together for more than twenty years, but every day, they are being sneered at by the prying eyes of their neighborhood because of the fact that their relationship was allegedly incestuous. According to their family story, the woman was believed to be the granddaughter of the man and we know for sure that in a culture defined by religious moral codes, this case is scandalous for most. Thus, they would often stoop down their heads every time they meet groups of people because of shame and guilt which they don’t actually deserve. For the longest time, they have been the recurrent subjects of mockery and gossip because their neighbors would at times swear that they are such a disgrace to the community.

One fateful day, the man was asked to do a menial job at the convent and he had a conversation with the parish priest. As time progressed, they became friends and the parish priest knew about the couple’s sad plight. They were actually eager to get married in the church in order to end all speculations but because their relationship was still considered a taboo by the unsympathetic community, they just decided to be tight-lipped on the matter and eluded their desire of sanctifying their union, even if their children are already getting older. In an attempt to help resolve the issue of this couple, the parish priest submitted their case to the chancery office for deliberation. An investigation followed. As a result, it turned out that the grandmother of the woman, who believed to be the older sister of the man, was not in fact, his real sister. The mother of “her” mother is just “his” half-sister and that made their relationship valid because it was not incestuous at all. As soon as the records were validated, everything was prepared for their wedding. The parish priest’s insistence to clear out the issue of this couple was inspired by the fact that they have truly loved each other. They stood up for their relationship despite the many years of unkind treatment from people who can’t seem to understand the real meaning of love. Their journey was really gruelling but then they have managed to cross the boundaries, unfazed by constant insults, indifference and rejection. Their triumph has become a testimony of a commitment that is for keeps and their unwavering love for each other has indeed explained all the ambiguities brought about by human logic and justification. It is a revelation of a mystery, gradually unfolded through constant witnessing that enables the individual to let go and be free to love and be loved in return.

I wasn’t able to attend their wedding, but I’m pretty sure that they were the happiest couple in the whole world. Lately, I just heard from somebody that whenever they pass by the neighborhood, their happy faces would show the dignity and self-respect that were once deprived from them. They can now bump into anybody with much joy and confidence. In this crazy-making life, it is never too late to be at peace with your one true love...and finding that one true love is enough reason to face all the odds. At last, love has given them so much freedom to choose happiness and meaning despite the adversity. Their union is more than just a fairy-tale because they have proven to everybody that love does not have happy endings for it simply never ends. Now, I do not wonder why love is coupled with forever.
Happy Valentines Day!