Every day after long shifts at the hospital, my girlfriend Rachel used to come straight to my place to rest. It was our comforting routine.

But one day, she suddenly stopped showing up. At first, she said she was too tired. Then she stopped coming altogether. I knew something was wrong.

When I finally asked, Rachel admitted the real reason. A man renting the basement room in my mom’s

house told her she was being inconsiderate by showering early in the morning and even suggested she pay rent.

The worst part? My mom agreed with him. Rachel didn’t feel welcome anymore — and I felt betrayed.

It turned out this tenant was more than just a renter. My mom had secretly started a relationship with him,

even though my dad was away working in Alaska. That night, I left home. Rachel and I moved in with her grandmother while we looked for our own place.

Six months later, I proposed to Rachel in our small apartment. We got married in a quiet garden ceremony.

My dad came. My mom didn’t. Sometimes the hardest moments lead to the strongest love — and a future you never imagined.