Sunshine After the Rain

The greatest comeback story I know is one that remains close to my heart. It is a story of courage and conviction; one that leaves me greatly inspired. And though it is a sad love tale that ended in devastation, it brought with it a new beginning towards a brighter tomorrow.

Like any other clandestine affair, the relationship started as purely platonic before culminating into a full-fledge love affair of tangled lies, deceit and betrayal. When she discovered his unthinkable affair with the other woman, she was understandably devastated. Though her entire world fell apart instantly, she willed herself to remain strong. Her only focus was keeping her family intact; defending them from the clutches of the evil outsider who dared to overturn her throne as queen of his home and heart for the past twenty-two years.

The unrelenting battle she bravely put up for the sake of her marriage brings tears to my eyes whenever I think about it. Putting aside her wounded pride, she was willing to forgive his infidelity so long as he returned home, to her and their two children. When given the choice, he made the perplexing decision to walk away; forever abandoning and severing all ties they once shared as husband and wife.

Completely unexpected, his decision to end their marriage drove her to the brink of insanity. The thought of separating her children from their once doting dad, left her in hysterics. Without any form of closure for the sudden manner in which he abandoned her, many questions remained unanswered. Left with no choice, she started forming her own conclusions for the demise of their marriage, which only led to further self-loathing and doubting her abilities as a wife, mother and friend. Living in total disarray, she continued drowning her sorrow by reminiscing about the perfect life she once enjoyed.

With the love and support of her two children and family, she eventually came to terms with the harsh reality surrounding her and slowly eased into her new role as a single mother. It was time to rebuild her life and start anew. She began by investing all her savings into a small flower shop, which gradually flourished into a profitable business; allowing her to diversify into many other ventures including running her own cafe and arts & crafts class.

Many years passed before she was able to fully embrace and appreciate life again. At long last, she had found the inner strength to forgive the man who shattered her heart and her dreams by relegating him to a mere figment of her imagination. Though she has forgiven his infidelity, she will never forget the pain his love had brought into her life. Ironically, it is this pain that drives her to strive for a brighter future without him.

Today, she is a headstrong woman whose zest for life defies her wise age of 67. After years of sweat and tears, she is able to sit back and enjoy the fruits of her labour by spending most of her time working from home, travelling or hanging out with friends and family. Hale and hearty, she is currently enjoying a contented life as a single mother, blessed with her two loving children, supportive friends and all the comforts one could possibly hope for at her age. Looking at her now, it is hard to fathom how she had almost given up on life during her darkest hour some eighteen years ago.

I never tire of listening to her comeback story for it never ceases to amaze me. The way she successfully turned her setback into a great comeback continues to inspire; reminding me that hope is always within reach and failure does not have to be forever. When life throws you a curveball, you have to be ready for its unpredictability by believing in your strengths and holding on to faith. Only then will the clouds eventually disappear, bringing with it a ray of sunshine and hope for second chances and new beginnings.