He spent a lot of time working on building sites, came home to an empty flat, and didn’t talk about love very much. He had been resentful about betrayal for years and decided that partnerships weren’t worth the pain.
But over time, his humble methods paid off. By living simply, Michael had saved roughly $15,000. In their little village, his neighbors believed that was a lot of money. It was enough to buy land, build a first home, or even settle down and live a safe life.
Michael was on a break for lunch at the site one afternoon when he checked his phone and saw a Facebook post from a group of volunteers. The article says that a drunk driver hit Emily Rhodes, a 28-year-old lady, right before she graduated with a degree in education. After the accident, she couldn’t move her legs.
Emily lived in a small, ancient cottage on the edge of rural Mississippi. Her father had died years ago, her mother was sick and frail, and she lived by herself. She spent a lot of time in a wheelchair, reading books she could borrow and teaching students online for free.
Michael was stunned by the last line of the post:
“She once said that her biggest dream is to wear a wedding dress once in her life to know she has a home.”
Michael’s chest got tight. It wasn’t pity. It wasn’t a choice made on the spot. There was something deeper, a gut feeling that made him want to be with her. He didn’t tell anyone he was taking a few days off work, then he jumped on a bus and headed straight to Mississippi.
He was surprised when he met Emily for the first time. It was impossible to put into words how attractive the young woman in the wheelchair looked. Her slender legs were tucked under a blanket. She wasn’t wearing any makeup, and her smile was hesitant, yet he felt warm when she was there and wanted to stay.
At first, they talked for hours every day. Michael realized that she still used her phone to learn languages, offered to teach other people on Zoom, and never stopped trying to learn. Even though her body was broken, her soul was strong.
Michael knew what he wanted on the way home: to marry her.
When he told them, they were surprised.
“Are you out of your mind? “Do you know what you’re getting into? You’re going to spend all of your savings to marry a woman who can’t move?”
Michael only smiled, though. “Life can be harsh or happy, depending on the decisions you make. Like everyone else, she deserves love.
He went back to Mississippi weeks later, this time with a ring. Emily couldn’t say anything when he asked. At first, she said no because she was scared she would be a burden and that he just liked her for a short time. Michael, on the other hand, didn’t stop trying. He contacted her every day, told her jokes, asked about her mother, and talked to her like they were already married.
After three months, Emily finally answered yes in a soft voice.
Their wedding was small and modest. They decorated their backyard with yellow lights and wildflowers they picked from the fields. Emily sat in her chair in a basic white dress, and Michael gripped her hands forcefully, which made them shake.
That night, he carefully led her into their room. He didn’t touch her quickly or hungrily; he did it on purpose as he helped her change into softer clothes. As he took the dress off her shoulders, he froze.
He saw a tattoo on her left chest. It had beautiful French lines engraved on top of a delicate tree with no leaves that was putting out new buds.
Michael’s throat got tight. He got it right away because he had studied how to build things in France years ago. He ran his fingers over the ink, but it was hard for him to see since he was crying.
Emily became red and pulled the blanket up, but he held her hand gently. “When did you get this?”
“After the accident,” she murmured softly.
“I thought I had lost it all.” My boyfriend left me, my friends stopped talking to me, and even my family stopped talking to me. For a while, I didn’t want to live. One day, though, I saw my mom struggle to push my wheelchair to fetch medicine. As long as I could breathe, I knew I was still alive. I have to live for both her and myself.
Michael didn’t say anything. He just held her close because he couldn’t find the right words to describe how strong she was. She didn’t want anyone to feel sorry for her. People should have admired her.
From that point on, he knew he hadn’t just married a woman; he had found the most important thing in the world.
After then, things got hard. Emily needed help with everything every day. But Michael never said anything. He got up early to cook, worked long hours at the site, and then came home to bathe her, read books with her, and laugh about little things like any couple.
A year later, Emily’s legs started to quiver and slowly respond, thanks to Michael’s ongoing care and therapy. That day, when she moved them by herself, Michael cried. For the first time in years, he believed in miracles.
A lot of people were moved by their story as it circulated online. Michael, on the other hand, stayed modest. When a reporter asked him if he wished he hadn’t spent money to marry her, he laughed quietly.
“I didn’t spend my money on a woman who couldn’t move.” I gave up everything to achieve something priceless: true happiness.