Love Online

Danielle never believed in love or marriage as she only saw small examples of successful marriage in her own family. Her earliest memory of her mom and dad who were never married, was of her father leaving to be with another woman. She remembered her father taking her hands in his and saying that he would be living somewhere else but loved her and her sister Diana. Being from a small town, who would have thought this would be a hard promise to keep. Danielle continues to see her father as he would pass their house to go drinking or smoking whatever they could find.

The only gifts that were given to her and her sister was a barbie house. Maybe if she was told this would be the only gift she would receive from him, she would have valued it more. This was the first introduction of love but not the worst.

That honor goes to Danielle's grandfather. Because Danielle's mom, Jennifer, wanted to finish college, her and her siblings stayed with her gradmother, Betty. Betty was a true "Madea" character as everyone in the neighborhood knew of Betty and her grandchildren. As a mother of 6, Grandma Betty was a strong woman who raised her siblings when cancer claimed the life of her mother at the early age of 50. Although the memory is faint, Danielle never saw love between her grandmother and grandfather Edward. When Grandma Betty would call her ex-husband over to fix something or even mow the grass, love was never dripping from the words they shared. Grandfather Edward, known from his inability to in a relationship long, before moving on to the next didn't stay with them, he lived out in the rural county limits. It didn't stop him from stopping by Grandma Betty's house whenever he wanted. Another vivid memory occurred when Grandfather Edward learned that Grandma Betty was seeing a man that was related to her best friend. Their relationship was new and it was great to see love. Grandfather Edward, in several relationships himself, decided to confront his ex wife late at night. At this time, Danielle and Diana were the only ones present at the house. When Grandfather Edward pushed Grandma Betty against the wall in the hallway, Danielle got to the phone and called over her aunts and uncles. Diana was so upset that she was crying begging Grandfather Edward to leave and not continue to harrass Grandma. By the time the aunts and uncles arrived, he was gone. Danielle thought again, if this was love, she would pass. Love seems to be more difficult than pleasant. Who would wish this level of sadness on anyone?

When Danielle got her first glimpse into love she would say that its when you get the tickles in your stomach or hearing a love song on the radio made you smile. Although only in middle school, she thought this could be cool to be in love until that first heartbreak. Who would think a heart could hurt so badly? Love didn't seem to follow Danielle around. She decided at an early age, that love was too much and marriage wasn't an experience she wanted to see. She saw her aunts and uncles have good relationships and even a cousin or two but was love in her future. So far, love has made a bad introduction and it was nothing to clap or cheer on.