A father’s strength protects, supports and puts family first. But what about when he can’t heal, mend or make it better?

I wanted to barge into his memories. This man that nine years ago I swore to always cherish, I wanted to cherish now the part of him I never knew.

I come to this battle armed with phrases like “unfair-mental-load”, “I-never-get-a-break” and “you-just-don’t-understand.” But friends, I have been fighting the wrong enemy.

It is one thing to get to know the love of your life before you slip those wedding bands onto each other’s fingers. It is a whole different thing to continue to get to know them years after you speak those vows.

It was that frightening hour. You know. 4 pm. Before the husband gets home. And when you have just about reached the end of all you can give. But then he sent that text message.

Finally I see him, and for the first time in days I forget about the call from the doctor telling me that I might have pre-cancerous cells on my cervix.