What follows is my Lovestruck version of the sweet love story of the Swains. I met Francesca during my recent travels in the Yucatán and was inspired to write up her tale... without even realizing an amazing coincidence. The image on our lovestruck business cards, which was designed by our marvelous illustrator Claire, depicts EXACTLY the pinnacle of Francesca and Alberto's love story- way before I had ever met them! Is that synchronicity or what?? Ahh, the power of love. Hear the film soundtrack that matched with their tale, look at photos from their gorgeous beach wedding, and read the Lovestruck Literature version of her love story with Alberto below: Once upon a time, deep under the surface of the clear blue cenote, two creatures swam. Their flippers sliced gracefully through the water as they shimmied and twirled. One of the creatures was clad all in white, the other black. From a single glance at their huge glass eyes, it was easy to see that they were very much in love. This was Francesca and Alberto. They were, in fact, not creatures at all, at least not beyond the human sense. Francesca and Alberto were divers. They met in México in a cenote, one of the thousands of sinkholes that dot the earth across the Yucatán Peninsula, remnants of the ancient meteor collision that wiped out the dinosaurs. When Alberto and Francesca met, it was not a cataclysmic event. But the force of the encounter would change both of their lives forever, propelling them on their greatest adventure yet. Many oceans were crossed before Francesca and Alberto would join together for life, sharing one last name and countless memories. Alberto was born in England to an English father and a Mexican mother, from Veracruz. Francesca was born in Italy. The lines of their separate journeys brought them together for that one fateful, watery meeting before Alberto again traveled away. They shared one kiss, and then Alberto was gone, traversing the jungles of Peru, navigating the flashy lights of Las Vegas. Still, all throughout his travels, he could not stop thinking about Francesca. Francesca, meanwhile, had only intended to stay in México for a few months. But she loved the sea. She loved diving. And she was just beginning to explore the depths of her feelings for Alberto. She stayed on at a hostel in Mérida, working and dreaming. When Alberto returned, their spark was stronger than ever before. They loved like they dove; freely and with joy. One month later, they moved in together. They barely knew each other, but they trusted the feeling shining through both of their hearts. They discovered each other’s hobbies, the sound of each other’s laughter, the fact that they both love to dance. Their lives took on a warm glow; they were bathed in adoration. Then a tidal wave of uncertainty crashed and anxiety broke loose all over the world. Still, in the midst of a global pandemic that none had predicted, the lovers held each other close. Their shared adoration created a bubble of warmth and light that protected them from the chaos. They reveled in each other’s presence and their lives sparkled with unending delight. At the cenote where they first met, Alberto and Francesca inhaled deeply and swam down to the depths. They dove nine meters, ten meters, twelve meters deep. Here the water glimmered in streams of light that filtered through to the depths. In the middle of that deep turquoise expanse, Alberto, dressed all in black, paddled his flippers, holding himself horizontal as he produced a small white box. He opened the box. Inside, like a pearl inside an oyster, waiting to be discovered, was a ring. Francesca took his hand. The couple embraced, her white lace enfolded in his black attire, the two of them swirling and spinning through tiny bubbles that glittered and popped as they reached the surface. The two divers held each other in a long, slow ascent, moving towards the surface of the cenote, rising towards becoming The Swains. Francesca and Alberto embarked on an adventure together that day, an adventure without end: the adventure of falling in love. Thank you so much to Francesca and Alberto for sharing your story! (and these beautiful pictures from your dreamy beach wedding. ) Want to learn more about your own custom Lovestruck Literature story options? Click below. Here is our business card- an engagement story that takes place under the sea! The resemblance is uncanny! PS. The music that inspired me as I wrote the Lovestruck version of the Swains' story (can you guess why?): Here's what Francesca has to say about it all: Mexico changed my life and I am so happy I took the decision to leave Italy and start this new adventure. I was definitely not looking for a relationship but everything was so natural and pure it was impossible to stop. We let us go with the flow and it turned out to be the best adventure of my life. Life is crazy and everything can change in a blink of an eye. I thought I was going free-diving with friends and I fell in love. Life is amazing.
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AuthorSara Rosenthal is the creator of Lovestruck Literature. She enjoys long beaches, long walks, and short stories. Archives
June 2021
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