Does once upon a time always lead to happily ever after?

Once upon a time in a land far, far away, a boy and a girl fell in love. The time was roughly seven years ago, the land was Valparaiso, Chile and I was that girl. It was a fairy tale, set oceanside and washed in vibrant color. We were exotic to one another, being from different countries and cultures. We met, I the English teacher, he the student. He helped me through a little drama I was experiencing in my adopted homeland, thus becoming my knight-in-shining armor. Both of us could still tell you in great detail about when and where we first kissed, what song was playing, how intoxicating and different from any other kiss it felt. We were inseparable from that moment forward, wildly, blindly, fully enamored of each other in every possible way.

Are you or have you ever been in young love? If the answer is yes then you will relate to the way C. and I felt then. There was nothing in the universe accept for the little niche we'd carved out of it to simply breathe in the other person's essence. There was no need greater than to be completely submerged in the ocean of the other's love. There was no doubt in our minds that we were meant to spend forever together so after five months of knowing each other, and at ages 24 and 22 respectively, C. and I decided marriage was most certainly the way to go.

I loved C. with everything I had and he felt the same way. With the passing of the years and the changing of the land, our love and our relationship have changed drastically. We will love each other forever. I know this is a statement of fact even though today I filed our divorce papers. I cried at the little window of the Clerk of the Court while I did it, but the important thing is that I did it because it had to be done. At the urging of many a friend who has bore witness to the journey that I have been on for the past few years, I am ready to chronicle where I have been and where I am going because I know that there are others walking with me who could probably benefit from knowing they have a little company.

Some may prefer to walk in companionable silence. Me, I'm a talker. I'm very verbal, very expressive, very emotional and very unafraid to share because that is how I deal and heal and grow. So walk with me if you will. Listen if you are intrigued. Share as well if you wish. And for both of our sakes, please remember: Once upon a time does not always lead to happily ever after, but that does not mean that you cannot be happy. Trust me.