In this episode we meet married couple Melisa and Lloyd. These lovers of seven years were always drawn to each other, but their capacity to learn and grow together provided a foundation for their relationship to really flourish. In this conversation, they take time to revisit Lloyd’s painful decision of choosing the love of his life over his mother, cherish the transparency that originally brought them together in a time when they were drifting apart, and reaffirm their encouragement for one another to be the best versions of themselves. Melisa and Lloyd describe themselves as the “Most Beautiful Couple in the World” and this conversation might make you agree.FROM THE EPISODE:[MELISA] How do you think our lives would be different if we never met?[LLOYD] I think I still would be on edge. I think I would be a little less compassionate. I think I learned a lot about women being with you and how women feel and what do women like. And me being an only child, how not to think of myself only when I was doing that for so long. So definitely when I moved in with you, it got real.I was like, "okay, this is serious stuff. People don't volunteer [this stuff];" the only way you'd know about it is living with the person, experiencing it with them. So definitely, that'd be like a key takeaway for me.When is the last time you considered ending this relationship and why didn't you?[MELISA] It was a time where I felt like you had to choose between me and your mom. And that was a rough time for me. And a lot of people that know us don't know. Now, having a relationship with your mother after seven years of being together. And she didn't come to our wedding, that was really rough for me. And I don't think I let you know, as much as it really hurt me. When I came into your life, your mother kind of slammed the door and was like, “Stop right there. Don't come no further. This is my son and I don't want no dealings with you.” Cause we did break up for like two weeks, which was not long—[LLOYD] It felt like two years![MELISA] I was ready to be done with the situation because I felt like I knew how close you and your mom was and I didn't want to be that wedge between you guys. So I was going to sacrifice myself and lose out on a great person. So she could win and y'all could keep your family together. Even though maybe that's not what you wanted, but I was tired of fighting. And only God has it now that she's like, “My daughter-in-law” and we have a great relationship and stuff like that.But the times before that was rough. I was worried about you for the wedding day that she didn't show up because you know, your dad is deceased and she's your only living parent. I was hurting that she wouldn't be there for you. Cause both of my parents were there. it hurt me too that she didn't come and I didn't let on. Cause you know, it's like all those other people were there. What really bothered me—and this was several times I wanted to break up because of your mom—I’m sorry to say that. [LLOYD] It was definitely a dealbreaker for a lot of people. And as far as her not coming to the wedding, I was kind of well-prepared for that. So I felt it affected you because you kept asking me about it and I wasn't mentioning it.[MELISA] To me it kind of looked bad.[LLOYD] Absolutely. But again, it was something that I was prepared for. Especially the closer it got to that date. That was something I wouldn't be surprised of. So, again, it was something that I was at peace with, but—like I say to you many times—for her to be present in her grandchild's life is more important, if I have to choose, than her being at the wedding or anything during that time prior.

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