“From Heartbreak to a New Beginning”

My journey with online dating didn’t start well.

The first man I connected with turned out to be a love scammer — the kind you read about but never imagine yourself falling for. He painted a romantic story: that he was planning to come to Indonesia to meet me, that he cared deeply. And then the requests started. Small things at first, then bigger. I didn’t realize it at the time — I truly believed him. By the time I figured it out, I had already lost $500.

It wasn’t just about the money. It was the betrayal. The shame. The heartbreak. I felt foolish and broken, and I told myself I was done. I didn’t want to fight for love anymore. I didn’t want to keep trying. I told myself maybe love just wasn’t for me.

But one of my coworkers gently encouraged me not to give up just yet. “Try one more time,” they said. And I did.

That’s when I met the man who would become my husband.

He was American, born and raised in the U.S. His mother was a full-blooded American, while his father, originally from Pakistan, had become a U.S. citizen since long time ago. His parents were divorced, so I only came to know his mother. She was warm, kind, and welcomed me with openness. It gave me hope.

We had something in common: we were both looking for someone serious — someone to build a life with. Our connection moved quickly. Within six months of dating online, we decided to settle down.

He had some health challenges — a mild mental impairment related to a heart and brain condition he’d carried since birth. But this never felt like a problem to me. We understood each other. We agreed that I would continue working while he, unable to hold a job due to his condition, would rely on disability income. I was okay with that. I was willing to carry the weight of our future together.

After months of video calls, conversations, and planning, he and his mother came to Indonesia. On June 14th, 2014, we got married. I believed this was the start of a new chapter — one filled with hope, healing, and shared dreams.

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This story is a part of my personal journey. Please do not copy or reproduce any part of it without permission. Sharing is welcome with proper credit and a link to this blog