Ted was born with a birthmark on his face, so large it almost covered the whole face. When his lips moved, the birthmark looked like a frog creeping. Growing up, he became quiet. He tried to make friends with girls, but they sometimes turned him down. It broke his heart.

Cherry was a pretty girl. When she was five, she suffered from a high fever and was unconscious in bed for three days. Afterward, she lost sight in both eyes. Forced to depend on other senses, her hearing and smelling became sharper; she could hear a moth flying and even predict unexpected incidents. In a way, she was happier.

One day, Cherry was riding on a bus to town. Ted got on and sat next to her. At the next stop, two guys got on. They pushed forward to Ted. Cherry felt something strange. She touched his foot as a reminder. Ted looked down and was surprised to see a hand reaching into his pocket, hunting for the money. He hit his pocket and the hand drew back, then the two guys left the bus.

Ted smiled his thanks to Cherry and they started talking. The conversation went so well they became good friends. They started dating and found they liked each other very much. Then they fell in love. Cherry believed Ted was the man she could rely on the rest of her life. Ted felt the same about her. After a brief courtship they got married.

Two years later they had a son. Cherry chose him the name "Ted Junior." She smiled at young Ted from morning till night. Ted was so happy with the life they had built together, that he did all the housework. He also took good care of their son. He did all that to show his love for her, which made Cherry very grateful.

"Thank you for your kindness, Ted. I am the happiest woman in this world," she said caressing his face. "If only I could see you with my own eyes. Even if it were only once."

"I would do anything for our family, dear," he said, holding her face and dotting it with kisses.

Ted Junior grew fast and soon was in kindergarten. They imagined what their future life together would be like and planned to buy new furniture and have their house decorated. Above all, a new idea hit them.

If Cherry could see, he thought while watching the bright, attractive eyes of a girl on TV, then she would be happier. He sighed.

"If I could see my Ted," she sang, "I'm sure my words couldn't describe his good looks!" She smiled.

That idea in mind, Ted tried to earn enough money to cure her blindness. No work was too heavy, he laid bricks and loaded goods. It took him a long time, but he got the money. Then he took her to the best hospital in town for an operation.

"My dear, when I am finally able to see you," she said, hugging him, "I will kiss you hundreds of times more."

"Will you keep your word?" he asked, smilingly.

"Certainly!"

The operation was successful. Cherry was excited to have the bandages finally removed so she could see Ted for the first time. But when she saw him, she was shocked. Her smile froze, in front of her stood a stout man with small eyes and a crooked nose. To make matters worse, the birthmark on his face was quite ugly. She didn't kiss Ted as promised, only sat quietly as tears streaked her face.

After she recovered, she realized her feelings towards him were changed. She didn't love him anymore. They often quarreled and she called him "frog face." Their once happy life together was miserable.

Silence continued until one evening after dinner when Cherry began to speak. "If you really love me, you would have the birthmark removed. If you don't, I will leave you."

Ted didn't lose his temper, but instead tried to collect money to do as Cherry wished. Eventually he realized he couldn't because he was still in debt from Cherry's surgery. He finally gave up.

"Cherry, I'm sorry. I can't make enough money for the laser treatments. You will have to make a choice about what you want to do."

"That means only one thing."

Looking almost destroyed, he didn't answer. He knew she probably wanted a divorce.

Returning home late from his night shift job, Ted found Cherry unconscious on the floor. He tried to revive her, but when she didn't wake up, he called 911. Days later she came to in the hospital, but her sight was gone again. An incurable cancer pressed against her optic nerve.

The first few days she refused to eat. Sometimes she spoke of trying to kill herself. Ted tried to calm her, told her he always loved her, and no matter what happened he would stay by her side as long as she wanted him there.

Then, for the first time since they met, she realized just how beautiful the man she marred was. From then on, whenever he came to visit her at the hospital, she felt his face and said, "Oh, Ted, my beautiful husband, I love you!"

They wept.

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