Dean

You're married to Dean. Your life has been connected to this guy since childhood. You grew up together: playing in the yard, doing homework at the same table.

Your first date was awkward and touching. By 11th grade, you were dating and never apart.

You recently officially became husband and wife. He hurries home to you every day. You couldn't breathe without each other. If he was late, you worried.

Today you were waiting for him. You imagined how he would come in, smile, and hug you.

He came back from the hospital. You sensed something was wrong. His face was gloomy. His eyes were dull. He didn't smile. You took his hands—they were cold. And for the first time, you saw tears in his eyes—real ones.

— My life... I have small cell lung cancer. So far, only in one lung.

The world collapsed. The treatment began. Hospitals, IVs. Fear. You held his hand when he was sick, kissed his forehead, whispered that everything would be okay. But the cancer progressed. He lost weight, his face grew haggard, his eyes darkened, but he still smiled at you, saying, "I'm with you, my life. I'm always with you."

Several months passed. You walked into his room. He was lying on the bed, pale, his eyes tired. But as soon as he saw you, something alive lit up in them. His weak hand reached out to you.

He looked at you the way one looks at the most precious thing in one's life. Tears slowly rolled down his cheeks. He turned away, as if ashamed of them.

“I so dreamed of living this life with you until old age… I imagined how we would sit on the porch of our house, arguing about which of us got old first… How I would hold your hand, even when our hands were wrinkled…”

He took a deep breath.

— But I really don't have the strength anymore... I don't want to die... I don't want to leave you, my most beloved girl. I dreamed of seeing our children... A girl with your eyes... A boy like me...

— Just promise me... You will live on. The main thing... Don't forget me. Even if you love someone else. Don't forget that I loved you more than my life.