I Want My Beloved to Be Happy: Difference between revisions

* In one of the sidestories of the ''[[Shared Universe1632]] that is the '' [[1632Shared Universe]]'' series side stories, Franz, a downtimer (from the 17th Century), tries to refuse a confession of love from Marla, an unptimeruptimer (from the future20th), even though he loves her back, on the grounds that his left hand is crippled. A minor injury by uptime sensibilities, but a major dealbreaker by 17th Century standards; especially for a former musician.

{{quote|'''Franz (thurstingthrusting his crippled hand at her face) :''' Because of this! Because I am crippled! I cannot hope for you or anyone to marry me. Your family would not allow it. I cannot support you. I cannot provide for a family, when all I can do is translate for one person here today, another person there on Thursday, or write two letters for someone next Monday. I cannot give you what you deserve, a husband sound in mind ''and body''. I cannot protect you from the ridicule that people will heap on you for marrying a cripple! I love you more than my life, Marla, and because of that I cannot do this!}}

* In the short story "Antinomy" by [[Spider Robinson]], Tom Higgins has spent decades trying to revive his lover Virginia Harding after she fell into a coma. When Virginia does eventually wake up, [[Amnesiac Lover|she initially doesn't remember him]]. Even worse, she develops an interest in his friend and younger co-worker Bill [[Mc Laughin]]—anMcLaughin—an interest that is reciprocated. Tom eventually has an epiphany after he is unable to tell a good joke—one of the things Virginia always loved about him was his sense of humor. His monomaniacal obsession with her over the years has made him someone far less than the man she once loved. When Virginia starts to recover her memories, Tom pretends not to know her so she can start a relationship with Bill, who is everything Tom was and more.