Through Thick and Thin and Until the End

It is not uncommon for young adults to fall in love.  In fact many young adults will fall in love several different times before finding "the one."  For 19-year-old Paige Steward, love found her at a very young age.
Paige is from a small town in Mississippi called Olive Branch.  She grew up with three protective older brothers.  Paige described herself as "basically an only child," since her brothers and her were far apart in age.  When Paige was just 13 years old, she met an older man named Dedrick.  Dedrick was five years her senior when they first laid eyes on each other.  The chemistry was instant, and Dedrick and Paige began to date, and fell head over heals in love.  As any father would, Mr. Steward was not happy with this older man in his young teenager's life.  "He didn't like me and Dedrick dating, because Dedrick was much older than me."  Over time however, Dedrick began to grow on Mr. Steward, and Paige's older brothers.

As Paige grew older, Dedrick stuck around.  In fact, Dedrick became part of the family.  "My brothers and my father are cool with the situation now.  He comes around the family and has started to hang around the house.  He has even eaten dinner with my family."  Now that Paige is a mature young adult, her father accepts her decision on dating someone much older than her.  Mr. Steward does not have much to worry about.  Dedrick has been there through good times and bad.

About two weeks ago, Paige's grandfather passed away from stomach cancer.  Paige describes the tough battle her grandfather fought.  "He was doing really well.  Just one week before his death is when I found out how bad he was doing." Dedrick was there for Paige when she needed her love most.  Paige and her grandfather were very close.

Statistics show that two out of five people will marry their first love.  "Dedrick and I have definitley talked about marriage.  We have been dating for six years now." Even though Paige was very young when she first met Dedrick, he has proved to her and her family that he will be there though thick and thin, and will be there until the end.