Okay, so I’ve been seeing this guy, and things were going pretty great. We had awesome chemistry, similar interests, you know, the whole deal. But then he dropped the bomb – he has cancer.
At first, I panicked. I mean, who wouldn’t? It’s a heavy thing to hear. I Googled everything I could about his specific type of cancer, prognosis, treatments, the works. I wanted to understand what he was going through, what to expect. I kinda went down a rabbit hole of medical articles and forums.
The First Few Dates After…
Honestly, the next few dates were awkward. I didn’t know what to say, how to act. I was so scared of saying the wrong thing. I think I overcompensated by being overly cheerful and positive, which probably came across as fake. I realized I need to relax and just be myself.
Having The Talk
We eventually had a really honest conversation. He opened up about his fears, his hopes, his treatment plan. I listened – really listened – and tried my best to just be there for him. It wasn’t easy, but it was important. It was a turning point for us, I think.
- He told me about his ups and downs.
- I shared with him that I was scared too, but wanted to support him.
Figuring Out My Role
That’s when I started figuring out my role in all of this. I wasn’t his doctor, I wasn’t his therapist. I was his…girlfriend? Partner? Whatever we were, I was there to be a source of normalcy, of fun, of distraction. We started doing more “normal” couple stuff – movie nights, trying new restaurants, just hanging out. We also scheduled things around his treatments, making sure he had time to rest and recover.
The Small Things Count
I learned that the small things mattered the most. Bringing him soup when he wasn’t feeling well, sending silly memes to make him laugh, just holding his hand during chemo appointments. That kind of stuff. It’s about showing up, consistently.
It’s Not Always Easy, But…
Look, it’s not always easy. There are tough days, days filled with worry and uncertainty. But there are also good days, days filled with love and laughter. We’re taking it one day at a time. I’m learning as I go, and he’s incredibly patient with me. It’s a journey, for sure, but one we’re navigating together.
