When Bethany had to leave Singapore to study in the Dominican Republic, she was sure that her relationship with Dong was over. But even that much distance could not stop fate from bringing them back together.

Bethany elaborates on her love story:

“My boyfriend and I met in Singapore in January, 2009.

“We were introduced through a mutual friend, and although I can’t say that it was love at first sight, I was intrigued.

“He was in a local band called Astroninja, and I had no exposure to the local music I was curious about him and the scene.

“He was cute, funny and seemed to have that bad boy aura about him that girls seem to find so attractive.

“Our second meeting was in the same setting.

“But I found out that he had asked our mutual friend to bring me to their next show at Timbre, and he had also asked for my full name so that I could be included on the guest list.

“It never occurred to me how he got my full name when I saw the friend request on Facebook the next day, but now it makes perfect sense!

“We began to talk, and as we spent more time with each other, I began to feel something more than curiosity, possibly a spark blooming between us.

“He always teases me that I was the one who asked him out, because I mistakenly took him asking me on a date as something more, and requested to be in a relationship on Facebook.

“We spent six beautiful months together, learning about each other, our past and how our different cultures and upbringings somehow made us into what we were.

“I learned to appreciate Singapore more with him by my side, and he learned about what it was like to be in a relationship with an American girl.

“We made promises and planned for a future together.

“Unfortunately, even great things come to an untimely end.

“I was sent to school across the world in the Dominican Republic, and he was still in Singapore finishing NS.

“It was probably the worst night of my life thus far when my parents told me, the sinking feeling that someone you love is slipping away, and you are powerless to stop it.

“It was unbearable.

“I remember very little of what happened in the next few days, but I do know that I ended up in the Dominican Republic.

“The atmosphere of the school was strict, and it was impossible to communicate with others.

“I remember the pain being so great that I would cry myself to sleep, wishing and praying that he was alright.

“There is a saying, though, that time heals all wounds, and it did for me.

“I still thought about him, and after several months of without contact, I was allowed to write one letter, telling him we were through.

“I wrote it, and as I remember, it was so incoherent that I am not sure if I would be able to explain it to you now if you asked me.

“I spent a year and a half there, studying and working with children in a bilingual school.

“I graduated, and shortly after, I moved to Chicago to live with my dear sweet grandparents.

“I also took a short holiday back to Singapore to visit my parents, and that is where it all started again.

“I had no intention of meeting with him, but finally, I agreed.

“The first meeting was awkward, but looking back, I don’t feel like it could have been anything but.

“We decided to meet again, and after that, I saw him every night.

“We went back to the old places we had been, laughed, kissed and laid to rest the demons that had haunted both of us in different ways.

“We spent our last night together on a bench in West Coast Park, talking about the future.

“He was going to do his masters in California, and I had made plans to study in Chicago.

“There was a certain longing in the way we talked and held each other, but nothing of the panicked, impassioned urgency that characterized us almost two years ago.

“We decided to try a long distance relationship, but with no promises except to take it as it came.

“I went back to Chicago, and shortly after, he came to California.

“I still remember the first call from him when he arrived; I probably damaged his hearing a little with my shrieks of joy.

“We spent about five months maintaining a long distance relationship before I decided to move to California to be with him.

“Some may call us crazy, but both of us sacrificed for love.

“We have been together for almost fourteen months since that day in West Coast Park, and I can tell you, nothing has been easy.

“We have had to learn to live with each other's quirks, but it has made us so much deeper as a couple.

“He proposed on June 15th, my birthday, but we are waiting until we get settled in careers and have more stability in our lives to get married.

“We both went back to Singapore over Christmas to visit his family, and I finally met his father.

“Even in the short time I spent with his family, I was so appreciative of how well they treated me, and I am extremely excited to get to know them better.

“Everything aside, I know that this is the man I want to spend the rest of my life with and raise a family around.

“I am not one who really believes in soul mates, but sometimes I catch myself thinking that way.

“Because if we really do have soul mates, then he is my mine.”

For more Love Stories, click here.