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Having weathered the unexpected turns that life has thrown their way, Rashul Rahman and Sherriza Hareani\u2019s 34-year-long love story is the quiet, enduring type that stays long after the final chapter.<\/span><\/p>\n They first met at the National Archives of Singapore; she, an archives officer, and he, a part-timer awaiting his O-Level results. Sparks flew, they got married, and life felt open with possibilities.<\/span><\/p>\n That changed in 2000, when Sherriza, at 32, was diagnosed with <\/span>retinitis pigmentosa<\/span>, a rare eye disease that causes gradual vision loss.<\/span><\/p>\n By 2007, the English Language master\u2019s degree holder had lost all usable vision, and along with it, her independence, freelance writing job, and the simple joy of reading and writing.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cI was very scared,\u201d the 57-year-old recalled. \u201cI couldn\u2019t continue (with my writing job) because I couldn\u2019t see my written notes, and I didn\u2019t dare go out anymore.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n Rashul, now 52, watched, heartbroken, as the woman he loved slowly retreated from the world. \u201cShe was hiding herself away,\u201d he said.<\/span><\/p>\n