Chapter 1 – The Old Love

Ruth was sixty-nine years old. She lived in New York with her husband Justin. Her life was full of pain and full of love. She often sat quietly and thought about her past. Many years ago, she had made a choice. That choice had changed her whole life.

Ruth had married Justin for love. People were shocked when she said yes to him. Her parents begged her to think again. Friends told her she was making a mistake. They all said the same thing. “Justin has no money. He has no house. He has nothing to give you.” But Ruth did not listen. She loved him. She believed love was enough. She believed together they could face anything.

The wedding was small. No lights. No music. No gold. No gifts. Only Ruth and Justin holding each other’s hands and making a promise. Ruth whispered to him, “We are poor, but we are rich in heart.” Justin held her hand tightly and said, “I will work every day for you. I will never leave you. We will build a life together.” Those words gave Ruth hope.

But life was harder than their dreams. Justin worked day and night. He cleaned streets. He lifted heavy boxes. He fixed things for others. His back hurt. His hands were rough. Still, money was never enough. Ruth worked too. She washed clothes for neighbors. She cooked for other families. She sewed old clothes to earn a little more. Every coin they earned went to food, rent, and the children.

Years passed, and their family grew. They had three children. Two daughters and one son. The daughters grew older, and Ruth wanted good lives for them. She wanted them to marry kind men. She wanted them to be happy. But nobody wanted to marry them. People said, “They are poor girls. Who will take them?” Ruth’s heart broke every time she heard this.

Their son, Alan, was the youngest. Ruth loved him deeply. He was her hope. He was kind and quiet. He saw everything. He saw how his father came home tired every night. He saw how his mother cried silently at times. He never forgot those tears.

Many nights Ruth sat with Justin. She held his hand and said, “We gave our best. But still, we are empty. What mistake did we make?” Justin looked into her eyes and said softly, “We did not fail. We stayed together. That is our success. One day our children will change our story.” His words were gentle, but his heart was heavy.

Ruth often prayed for her children. She said to herself, “I could not give them gold. I could not give them a big house. But maybe they will give me peace before I close my eyes.” Her prayers were simple, but her heart was full of pain.

One evening, Ruth sat alone. She looked at her children’s old clothes. She touched the torn fabric and tears rolled down her face. She whispered, “If only I could give them more. If only I could change their fate.” At that moment, Alan came into the room. He saw her tears and held her hand. “Mother, don’t cry. One day I will give you everything you dreamed of.” Ruth looked at him, shocked by his words. She smiled weakly and kissed his head.

Justin walked in and saw them. He placed his hand on Alan’s shoulder and said, “Son, life is not easy. But if you stay strong, you can change our story.” Alan nodded. In his young heart, a fire was born. He decided that night he would not let his parents suffer forever.

Ruth felt both pain and hope that day. She thought, “Maybe love was not enough. But maybe my son’s promise will be.” She closed her eyes and prayed again, not for herself, but for Alan.

Her life had been full of hardship, but her love for Justin had never faded. Even after twenty-nine years of marriage, she still looked at him with respect. She often told him, “We are poor, but I do not regret my choice. You gave me love.” Justin always answered, “And you gave me strength. Without you, I would have fallen.”

This was Ruth’s life. A life of sacrifice, of pain, of tears, but also a life of love that never broke. She did not know what tomorrow would bring. But in her son’s eyes, she saw a light.