A few weeks ago I wrote a story about an innocent young woman named Mary who married a gay man. The name Mary is made up, but the story is based on a real, albeit unfortunate relationship.

To protect the identities of the people involved, I changed a lot of the details from what actually happened. Locations were changed, names created, chronology of events rearranged, and facts skipped and invented to make the story more coherent and interesting to read. I was going to make the ending a happy one. I thought about having Mary meet and marry a bubbly middle-aged man in the end to make up for the pain and suffering she
endured during the sham marriage. But the real Mary would not let me. She’d rather have me tell her fate as closely as possible to what happened. She was hoping that the story would reach some other women — and men — who were in similarly dire marital relationships. Perhaps this story could give them some comfort, knowing that they are not alone, Mary told me.

Marriage as an institution is an old one. But it is changing. According to one study in the US, there are more people who have divorced at least once than those who have not. About thirteen states (out of fifty) in this country have legalized same-sex marriage. So being gay, or openly gay, is not “news” any more. But there are, I believe, some people who don’t even know they are gay until they get married or when they get into a serious romantic relationship with the opposite gender. I venture to say that Paul in my story is one of those people who found out too late, although I can’t be sure. Untimely and unfortunate discoveries like that carry awful consequences for both the man and the woman.

I am not here to support or sabotage hetero or gay relationships. I think it’s a personal choice. I just learned from Mary that unmatched sexual orientations such as hers and Paul’s deserve to be looked at with compassion and humanity.

Mary and I hope you have found or will find your true love soon.

*** The End ***

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