Police told him his first love had died — 40 years later, a Facebook message from her brother turned his life upside down
Confused, when the man dug further, he realized she was alive and had spent her life thinking he was dead
John Sanderson, 14, and Louise Crookshank, 12 were two kids who met at the Royal Navy School in tal-Ħandaq, Malta, in the 1970s, and fell deeply for each other. Their young love knew no boundaries. They spent most of their time together, enjoying each other's company. However, Crookshank's family, particularly her father, wasn't happy with their relationship, according to a March 23 report by Times Malta.
Life moved on, and despite strong opposition, Sanderson and Crookshank remained in touch even after the former left Malta for the UK at 17. Their lives progressed until one frightening phone call left Sanderson altered for life — only to discover it had all been a lie.
Sweet Proposal
On his last day, Sanderson, then a teenager, had proposed to his school sweetheart. Well, it was far from a simple proposal. It was a moment where commitment outweighed fear, and love overpowered uncertainty. After the service, as the couple clicked a photo together, Sanderson escorted Crookshank back inside the church and asked if she would marry him. "She burst into tears and said yes," Sanderson, now 67, recalled.
Crookshank's family pretended to accept their relationship but insisted the kids wait until they grew a little older. Anyhow, Sanderson left for the UK, but he remained in contact with his girlfriend through letters. A year later, Crookshank also moved to the UK with her family, where the couple reunited. In fact, she left her home to build a life with her childhood sweetheart. But their happiness was short-lived.
The dreaded phone call
As Crookshank left for Devon to attend her cousin's birthday party, a phone call from a so-called police officer changed their lives forever. The cop told Sanderson that his girlfriend had died in a car accident. Shocked, he suffered an epileptic seizure and was admitted to the hospital. Sanderson never got closure since Crookshank's family refused to let him attend her funeral.
For forty years, he lived his life believing his first love was dead, until a tiny suspicion led him to the truth. As years passed, Sanderson gave love another chance and got married, but that didn't last long. "Later, I married Caroline, and it was her love and dedication that helped me move forward," he confessed.
Everything was fine until Sanderson discussed his first love, Crookshank, with a neighbor, who also happened to be a police officer. Upon hearing his story, the cop seemed a bit suspicious. He told Sanderson that it's very unlikely for an officer to call someone to report a death.
Facebook message that turned his life upside down
Confused, when Sanderson dug further, he realized he had been living a lie for all these years. His friend found Crookshank's brother, Jasper, on Facebook, who informed them that his sister was alive and had spent her entire life thinking Sanderson was dead. Later, it was revealed that someone from Crookshank's family had asked everyone to lie to separate the lovebirds.
In 2014, Sanderson and his wife traveled to the Isle of Man to meet his first love, who was living with her brother. The reunion was emotional as both spent a moment together to share their grief. While Crookshank told Sanderson that she struggled with addiction and homelessness after hearing his false death story, he was forced to bury her memories once again. They promised to stay in touch, but fate had some other plans.
Tragic end
On Crookshank's 60th birthday, she passed away in her sleep, and the tragedy broke Sanderson all over again. As his health began to deteriorate, a counselor suggested he write down his memories. Sanderson agreed, and his memoir, "The Ghost of Love," was later published as a book on July 24, 2025.
Family disputes, even today, are a significant contributing factor in many breakups and separations. Studies have seen that couples with high levels of parental interference are more likely to consider divorce, with a reported divorce rate of 45% as compared to 20% in marriages with low parental interference.
Similarly, Forbes Advisors surveyed 1,000 Americans who are divorced or who are in the process of divorcing and found that lack of family support was a top factor influencing 43% of divorces. In fact, 21% of respondents said they saw disapproval from a spouse, family, or friends as a warning sign that their marriage might fail. 
Meanwhile, for netizens, Sanderson's reunion with his sweetheart Crookshank felt like a plot straight out of a Hollywood romantic movie. Reacting to it, Robbie Govus commented, "This is so heartbreaking yet so beautiful at the same time. True love somehow always finds a way. I'm so sorry for them both. They are literally our contemporary Romeo and Juliet, and their eyes in both photos and decades apart say it all."
Tanya Sawyer said, "One lie changed two lives for decades. Despite the pain and lost time, their reunion shows the strength of love and the power of truth! Love always finds its way back even after years apart... some bonds are simply too strong to be erased by time."
More on Scoop Upworthy
Woman finds ex-boyfriend on Facebook after 27 years — gives their love story the end it deserves
Share on Facebook
