I [Sammy], knew I had found love when I met Angela. Our paths crossed at the bookstore where I worked—she was a regular customer who often stopped by to browse.

It may sound cliché, but there was an undeniable spark about her that drew me in. Initially, I was content with just being friends, but as our interactions became more frequent, I found myself longing for something more.

With each visit, I made a conscious effort to engage Angela in conversation, helping her with purchases while exchanging thoughts on various topics. Through our discussions, I discovered her humility, strong religious beliefs, and ambitious career aspirations, including her dream of owning her own business someday.

Despite the comfort of our friendship, my feelings for Angela continued to grow, and I eventually mustered the courage to ask her out.

To my delight, she reciprocated the sentiment, and our first date at the beach was nothing short of magical. It was not long before our relationship blossomed, and nearly a year into it, I was certain that Angela was the one I wanted to spend the rest of my life with.

While our journey together was not without its challenges, we complemented each other well. Our families were supportive, and we shared a vision for our future. Marriage was a topic we had openly discussed, and we were both eager to take the next step.

However, when the time came for routine medical tests, Angela hesitated, which initially I attributed to common fears of needles or hospitals. But when her reluctance persisted, I began to suspect something deeper.

The test results shattered our hopes. Angela's genotype was AS, while mine was AC—biologically, we were incompatible. Despite the love and devotion we shared, the reality of our situation was undeniable. We faced the painful realization that our dream of a future together might never come to fruition.

Instead of immediately calling off our relationship, we put our marriage plans on hold. We continued our relationship as if putting off everything that had come up for as long as we wanted to would yield different results.

But, months passed, and the weight of our decision hung heavily upon us. During one of my visits to her home, Angela broke down when the conversation came up. Eventually, we sought professional guidance, but it became clear that our only choice was to part ways, as the risks associated with our genetic pairing were too great.

Angela made the difficult choice to disappear, believing it was the only way to truly move on.

During one of my business trips, Angela and I maintained regular communication for the first three days. However, she suddenly began missing my calls and responding late to my texts. The distance made it impossible for me to inquire in person about any issues, and despite my attempts to reach out, she remained evasive and unresponsive to my questions.

One Thursday afternoon, I reached for my phone to call Angela, only to be met with the disheartening message: "The number you're trying to reach is currently unavailable." Panic set in as I made five attempts with the same result.

At that moment, a wave of anxiety washed over me, and my heart raced as if I had just sprinted a hundred meters. Frantically, I reached out to our mutual acquaintances, hoping they could assist me in reaching her. However, despite my efforts, I received no leads or assistance from them.

Upon returning from my two-week trip, I was stunned to discover that Angela had completely upended her life. She had relocated from her family home, resigned from her job, changed her phone number, and moved to an undisclosed location.

Her sudden departure left me heartbroken and bewildered, struggling to come to terms with the loss.

In the years that followed, I gradually found solace over time, though thoughts of Angela still lingered. It was not until a chance encounter with her cousin that I finally gained the closure I had been seeking.

Meeting Angela again, face to face, brought a flood of emotions. She told me about her visit to the counsellor, which proved to be a pivotal moment. It was then that she realized she needed to decide before things deteriorated further.

Despite the pain of our past, we shared a moment of understanding and acceptance.

Her apology brought a sense of peace, and I realized that while our love story had come to an end, the lessons learned would stay with me forever.

As I reflect on our journey, I'm reminded of the importance of communication and honesty in relationships.

The need for open dialogue about important issues, such as health and compatibility, cannot be overstated - it's a lesson I carry with me as I navigate the complexities of love and relationships.

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The names of the characters have been changed for anonymity.