I thought that as long as Sergio stood by my side and understood my intentions, then everything I did would be worth it.
But reality later taught me that if a guy's friends and family did not accept you, it was better to cut ties with him sooner rather than later.
Because like attracts like, and birds of a feather flock together.
The man you liked might not be a good catch after all.
It was unfortunate that I had wasted several years of my youth before I realized it.
But at least it was not too late.
Sergio was suffering from a terminal illness. To seek a miracle, I knelt in front of the statue of Jesus every night before bed, praying devoutly for an hour.
However, when I learned that Sergio shared my nightly prayers to Jesus as a joke with his friends, I knew it was over between us.
What I did not expect was that they would go so far as to do something this outrageous.
I knelt on the ground, feeling numb.
In my ears were the exaggerated sounds of their laughter.
At that moment, Sergio's childhood friend Kirsten was doubled over in laughter in his arms after pretending to be Jesus.
When I prayed, I habitually left only one candle lit.
The room was too dim, and because I was nearsighted, I did not even notice that my statue had been switched out.
Kirsten, dressed as Jesus, was standing behind the altar, taking Jesus's place and receiving my kneeling for a full hour.
"See, I told you this would be so much fun!
"Elsie, your expression when you were kneeling to me was so serious!
"But I didn't expect you to still believe in this.
"If you're sick, you need to see a doctor. Even a three-year-old understands that. How do you not get it?
"I know you're desperate to live, but you shouldn't be so hasty in seeking help."
Kirsten sneered, her face full of disdain.
I looked down at the statue of Jesus that had rolled onto the ground and was being kicked around, feeling a deep sense of guilt.
Seeing that I had not reacted for a long time, Kirsten and the others grew bored and stopped laughing.
But they began to lecture me instead.
"Elsie, you really can't take a joke at all; it's just so dull," Kirsten said, looking displeased.
The others echoed her, criticizing me as well.
Even Sergio looked at me disapprovingly and said.