I'm Jeng, 29 years old. I'm a simple woman with a simple dream—to go to America with the person I love. We want to start a new life there: work, save, and eventually start a family.
But it's not all that easy. We've applied for visas twice, and we've failed both times. I still feel the nervousness every time the consul interviews us, and the pain every time we hear the word "denied."
That's where the unexpected ideas started.
One night, while we were talking, my boyfriend suddenly mentioned that his sister had a friend in the US—a widow who was willing to marry him. It was legal on paper, but emotionally it was fake. In return? U.S. citizenship.
I didn't know how to feel at that moment. I laughed at first. But as he clarified that the offer was probably real, I gradually calmed down.
“It’s just temporary,” he said. “Once I get citizenship, we’ll still be together.”
It got me thinking. Was it that easy for him to compromise our relationship? Was it that easy to turn marriage into a business?
As he got more and more excited about the plan, I got more and more confused. What if he fell in love with the girl? What if the process took too long? What if immigration found out about us?
I tried to understand him. He just wanted our dreams to come true. But I couldn't help but feel hurt. Wouldn't it be better if we faced the process together, even if it took a long time, even if it was difficult—than to find a way that would cost us honor and relationships?
I was even more confused when the widow sent a message. Introducing herself. She was kind. There was only one condition: no emotional attachment, and I had to agree.
That night, I couldn't sleep. My boyfriend was quiet. He said, "This is like us, right?"
But my question is: For us, if I'm not sure what kind of relationship we have?
