‘Eat, Pray, Love’ Author Says She Fell In Love With Her Best Girlfriend, Which Brought End To Marriage

Elizabeth Gilbert, the author best known for her bestselling novel Eat, Pray, Love, which became a hit movie starring Julia Roberts, recently opened up about the demise of her second marriage to Felipe, the man she described falling in love with at the end of her bestseller.

However, it wasn’t feelings for another man that brought the relationship to a close. Instead, it was feelings Gilbert had for her best female friend, Rayya Elias. Gilbert disclosed this in a recent Facebook post to her fans.

“Many of you already know who Rayya Elias is to me. She’s my best friend, yes, but it’s always been bigger than that. She’s my role model, my traveling companion, my most reliable source of light, my fortitude, my most trusted confidante. In short, she is my PERSON.”

Elizabeth Gilbert thanks fans for support after revealing relationship with best friend https://t.co/iGetj9cWPR pic.twitter.com/TuJg0DTSWU

— People (@people) September 9, 2016

Gilbert’s development of emotion and feelings for her best friend led to the close of her previous one, as the Wrap relays.

“For those of you who are doing the math here, and who are wondering if this situation is why my marriage came to an end this spring, the simple answer is yes. (Please understand that I cannot say anything more about it than that. I trust you are all sensitive enough to understand how difficult this has been. As David Foster Wallace once wrote: ‘The truth will set you free — but not until it’s had its way with you.’ Yes, it has been hard. Yes, the truth has had its way with us. And yes, the truth still stands).'”

The new love Elizabeth Gilbert has for her friend, and their openness about the relationship, is, however, overshadowed by a tragic fact: Elias is now suffering from pancreatic and liver cancer, for which there is no known cure. The author detailed the heartbreak she felt in the moment she learned of Elias’ diagnosis.

“In the moment I first learned of Rayya’s diagnosis, a trap door opened at the bottom of my heart (a trap door I didn’t even know was there) and my entire existence fell straight through that door.”

Gilbert then noted how in that moment of learning that the one she truly loved may soon be gone, everything became clearer and the truth was all she could see, that being that she did not only love Rayya but was in love with her and from that point, the author’s whole life became about the one she loves.

“From that moment forward, everything became about HER. I cancelled everything in my life that could be cancelled, and I went straight to her side, where I have been ever since.”

Thank you for the love, everyone. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. ?? pic.twitter.com/rkCZVyIDwg

— Elizabeth Gilbert (@GilbertLiz) September 7, 2016

Elizabeth then shared her hopeful view of the situation and stated that when Rayya is well, being by her side will continue to be what she lives for, just as her best friend and love will live for Gilbert. The author then went on to note how living in the public eye has perhaps caused her to hide her truth, but that from this point forth, she will celebrate her truth and the public will only see that truth.

“Because — for better or worse — I am someone who lives her life in the public eye… And when people look at me, they will inevitably see me with Rayya, because — as God is my witness — whenever Rayya is healthy enough to be by my side, she will be by my side.”

Elizabeth and Felipe announced their divorce earlier this year, and the author has stated that the two parted on amicable terms.

[Photo by Neilson Barnard/Getty Images]