“Eat, Pray, Love” author weds terminally-ill girlfriend
<p>Elizabeth Gilbert, the acclaimed author of <em>Eat, Pray, Love</em>, has held a commitment ceremony with her terminally ill partner, Rayya Elias. Gilbert, 47, took to Instagram to share a touching photo from the couple’s “ceremony of love” – a bittersweet moment for the couple, who know their days together are tragically numbered.</p>
<p><img width="500" height="624" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/37835/image__500x624.jpg" alt="Image_ (333)" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"/></p>
<p>“Over the last year, Rayya Elias and I have been through some really difficult days together – but not today,” Gilbert captioned the sweet snap. “Today was precious and perfect. A simple and spontaneous ceremony of love, surrounded by a small handful of friends and family.</p>
<p>“Our ceremony was nothing legally binding (no need to alert the authorities, folks!)... just a quiet and private celebration of what we have long known to be true: We belong to each other.</p>
<p>“More difficult days are to come. It doesn't get easier from here. Her illness is grave. But our love is strong. We will walk together as far as we can go together. After that, it all gets turned over to God.</p>
<p>“Create beauty with every day you are given,” the post concludes.</p>
<p>The couple had been best friends for years, but upon hearing of Elias’ diagnosis with pancreatic and liver cancer, Gilbert knew it was something more. “I do not merely love Rayya, I am in love with Rayya,” she wrote on Facebook last September, just two months after announcing her separation from husband José Nunes.</p>
<p>Congratulations to the happy couple, we hope they enjoy their precious remaining time together.</p>
<p><em>Image credit: elizabeth_gilbert_writer/Instagram.</em></p>
