"When Dreams Betrayed Us: A Love Story Colliding with the Mirror of Reality"

He was just a simple young man—quiet, hardworking, and honest. His job barely paid enough to cover rent and a few meals, but his heart had already chosen its home: in her. She wasn’t wealthy either. Just a schoolteacher with kind eyes and a smile that somehow made him believe that everything would be okay. Their love wasn't loud, but it was deep. And when they looked at each other, the rest of the world faded away.

They got married in a small ceremony, surrounded by hope and borrowed decorations. There were no fancy rings or lavish dresses, just two hearts making a promise. Not because they had everything figured out, but because they believed love would carry them through.

At first, it did.

They laughed through hunger, found joy in the smallest things. When the lights went out, they danced by candlelight. When the fridge was empty, they made meals out of whatever they had and still managed to smile. Their mattress sat on the floor, but their dreams floated high above the ceiling.

Then life started arriving—quick and uninvited. A child. Then another. And another. Four in total. Each child was a miracle, each one filling their hearts more than they thought possible. But they also filled the house with needs: diapers, milk, school fees, doctor visits, shoes that were always too small after just a few months.

He took every job he could. From construction sites to carrying cement in the hot sun, his hands turned rough, his back bent earlier than it should have. She stayed up into the night, sewing clothes for neighbors, teaching extra lessons on weekends, all while rocking babies to sleep and helping with homework.

Their home grew noisier with children’s laughter… but also quieter between them. The words they once whispered with tenderness turned into tired sighs. Arguments became more frequent, not out of anger, but out of exhaustion. Not because they stopped loving each other, but because love became buried under fatigue and responsibility.

They stopped going on walks. They stopped dreaming out loud. The little things that once kept them close—morning kisses, inside jokes, even holding hands—began to fade like old photographs.

And yet, they still loved each other.

Just… silently.

He never cheated. She never gave up. But both of them began to carry silent questions in their hearts—questions they were too afraid to say out loud.

One night, after a particularly grueling day, he came home late. His boots were caked in mud, and his body ached with every step. In the kitchen, she was serving dinner: lentils, bread, and water. The kids were already laughing at something silly, unaware of how little they had. He looked at her, standing there in the same faded apron she had worn for years. She looked up, caught his eyes, and smiled. The same smile from their wedding night.

And in that moment, something inside him cracked.

He excused himself quietly and went into the bedroom, pulled out a small notebook he kept hidden in his drawer, and wrote:

> “I don’t regret her. I don’t regret my children. But I do regret not waiting. I wish I had built a home before filling it with life. Love is not a shelter—it’s the warmth inside it. But warmth fades when the roof leaks, when the bills pile up, when dreams are delayed because you had to survive instead.”

He closed the journal and sat still for a long time.

That night, he didn’t sleep easily. But when he did, he dreamed of a younger version of himself—standing in front of a mirror. The mirror didn’t show his reflection, but the faces of his children, looking back at him with tired eyes. And he whispered to them:

"I'm sorry I didn’t wait. You deserved more."

---

A Message to Every Young Dreamer:

Fall in love. Feel it deeply. Let it change you.

But don’t let your feelings outpace your future.

Build stability. Prepare a space where love can breathe.

Because love can survive hardship—but it shouldn't have to.

Love needs more than emotion—it needs protection.

And children need more than your heart. They need your strength, your time, your readiness.

If you truly love someone…

Build a life first.

Then invite love in.