I Worked Nights and Nursed My Husband Through Cancer – The Week He Was Declared Cancer-Free, He Asked for a Divorce, but His Doctor Stopped Me and Said, ‘There’s Something You Should Know’

I lifted the suitcase from the bed.

“If there’s still an us, Theo, we’ll have to find out when neither of us is staying because we’re afraid to leave.”

***

I stayed with Mom for several weeks, but I didn’t hide there.

Theo started counseling. I found my own counselor. At work, I stopped grabbing every extra shift before anyone else could answer.

The first time my supervisor asked, “Alicia, can you cover tonight?”

“I can’t.”

I waited for the guilt.

It came.

***

Months later, Theo texted.

“Can we have dinner?”

My first draft was, “I don’t think that’s a good idea.”

I deleted it.

Then I wrote, “Friday. Seven. I’ll choose the place.”

I picked the restaurant where he’d left me waiting on our anniversary.

***