The Familial Obstacle Anonymous

The purr of the engine dulls the voices of the other passengers. The cabin is fiercely pressurized, and the economy seating is cocooned in the back. After we visited the fresh farmland and enjoyed accustomed smoked foods, the only taste that both my brother and I longed for was a greasy cheeseburger and to feel American soil beneath our feet. After a long flight, we boarded off the plane and found our way out this maze of an airport

In the distance, I was able to spot my family through the blur of people. My family came toward us, clapping and hugging, with tears streaming down their faces. It was at that moment that I noticed something quite peculiar and the next two weeks that followed resulted in the most drastic life obstacle I would have to experience.

Let’s take it back to the beginning. The real reason, why my brother and I traveled alone to Europe wasn’t for a wedding invitation, but a six-week break for my parents to work on their marriage. At first, this didn’t seem like it was a big deal, but as time passed, I watched it quickly escalate into something that no one would wish on a child. Taking into consideration the typical European stereotypes, family always sticks together. Divorces were typically frowned upon in...