He Left On My Birthday—And Faced The Consequences At His Mother’s Funeral

in deeper than it should have.

We started meeting for coffee. “Just as friends,” I told myself, because I needed the lie. He never tried to kiss me. He just showed up, on time, with my order already in his hand, and made me feel seen.

Then Linda was diagnosed with terminal cancer. Six weeks, maybe less.

Jerome started spending his days at the hospital.continue reading …