Our love story was not without obstacles. My family opposed our relationship from the start. Michael came from a workingclass background. His father was a mechanic and his mother a nurse. They were honest, hard-working people who raised their son with strong values and a remarkable work ethic. But to my status conscious parents, he might as well have been from another planet. You could do so much better, Nenah. My mother would say whenever his name came up, think about your future. He will never be able to provide the lifestyle you deserve. My father was more blunt. That boy has no connections, no family wealth, nothing to bring to the table except student loans.

I ignored their criticisms. Michael had everything that actually mattered. He was brilliant, completing his engineering degree with honors despite working part-time to cover his expenses. He was compassionate, volunteering at the local animal shelter on weekends. and he loved me unconditionally, supporting my dreams and ambitions without ever making me feel like I needed to change.