When Mart Soeson looks at Elfriede Riit, he doesn’t see her age — he sees his home.

The 48-year-old Estonian lawyer has been fighting to stay in Australia to be with Elfriede, his 103-year-old partner. Their story began decades ago in the most unexpected way — she was once married to his grandfather. What started as companionship grew into something neither could explain. “Love doesn’t ask the age,” Mart says softly.

The two have shared life’s quiet moments for more than a decade — cooking, laughing, caring for one another. But when Elfriede moved into a nursing home in 2022, immigration officials questioned whether their bond was genuine. Mart’s visa was denied, leaving him heartbroken and pleading to remain by her side.

“I brought joy and safety into her life,” he says. “She gives me love I’ve never known before.”

Now, as Elfriede prepares to celebrate her 104th birthday, Mart still visits her daily — bringing chocolates, changing her hearing aid batteries, and holding her hand as she smiles.

💭 “Age fades,” he says, “but love — real love — doesn’t.”