74 YEARS LATER

In the 40"s and 50's, a woman was meant to be married to whomever would have her,or whomever your parents matched you with.
My grandparents ensured that given fact for the sanctity of marriage ( bullshit) and power to combine families with means(truth).
My mother:
She graduated with honors at 16 and was accepted as 1 of 2 women allowed to attend her privileged graduate school.
 She was 18 yrs old, pulled out of an all women's college and was wed off to my dashing military father.
What a farce that was. 5 children under the age of 8 by the time she was 26. A slave to the era. You know, a woman's place. She had to have my father's permission to use birth control. Not allowed.
My father was a prick. Only child. Born and bred as a career pilot. Entitled to whatever discipline he saw fit. While on leave. Military discipline. "Yes Sir" " As you requested Sir". Thank you for the punishment Sir."
Thankfully he passed at 60. Needless to say, my mother never new what love was by a man who loved her until...
4 years ago she met her soulmate. 74 yrs old and there he was. My fathers best man. Soft spoken, eyes transfixed on my mothers eyes. Adoration from the heart. To see her now, late 70's with the love of her life, it's mesmerising. It is never too late to tell someone how long you have loved them. Whether it be when you are 17 or 74. Your soulmate will find you eventually. And, if they have passed on, they'll show up in someone. They would never want you to be alone.