The Stranger

Today I was sitting at the bar and a guy walked up and started talking to me and what he told me was the greatest love story that resulted from struggling. He said he struggled with telling his story because he was afraid to open the hurt he kept trapped When he was 17 he enlisted in the army. He said he wanted to find a purpose to feel like he was doing something worthy of love and respect. He struggled with depression and at the time no one understood this it made people seem odd and different. He didn't know how to fix himself. Not that anything was or is wrong with him. He served for 25 years, while overseas a ied explosion caused him to lose his leg. This caused his depression to worsen with all of the deaths around him and feeling lost. He was hospitalized during recovery and was given proper help. While in recovery he fell in love with one of the nurses. They spent every second together and created a family. One day she got I'll and the doctors couldn't tell what was wrong and he lost her. He kept his pain in side and tried to move on, but there love was so strong he couldn't stay away he would go to her grave side every day and bring her a rose. They were married for 32 years and his love for her never faded it only grew. He told me that if he could give me advise it would be to never stop trying even if it gets hard, you keep pushing yourself only then will you succeed. He told me to live every moment like it was my last and never doubt myself. Fear he said is a persons worst enemy. Never let it overcome you because you are stronger than you think. He turned to walk away and he said lightly " this is true I know, never forget what I said "