[THEME MUSIC]
Anna Martin: From The New York Times,
I'm Anna Martin.
This is the Modern Love podcast.
Today's essay begins with a couple who make a choice,
just as they're running out of options.
And it turns out their act of desperation is also an act of love.
The essay is called 'Getting Married is Better Than Dying, Right?'
It's written by Pauline Miller and read by Sam Desz.
Sam Desz: 'Should we just get married?' Chris asked.
'OK,' I said, then passed out from exhaustion.
I didn't know what was wrong with me.
My body felt like it was shutting down.
I needed to go to the hospital, but I was a struggling actor.
I had no health insurance.
I had to take part–time jobs to pay the bills.
Chris and I had been happy together for three years,
living in our separate New York City apartments.
Neither of us was eager to get married.
He was divorced and not ready to rush into anything.