"L", a past love interest, turned up and promptly read me the riot act. My memory tapes were spinning trying to remember what I had or hadn't done to merit this tongue lashing but I listened. He had been such a "smooth operator" and this outburst was so out of character, I knew it probably was something he'd been stewing about. When he finished, I realized what I perceived all along as a guarded personality was his defense mechanism in the midst of a health scare.
Through tears he told me I had abandoned him when he needed me most. Interesting, I thought "our thing" had run it's course and thought nothing more of it. I was post-divorce, playing the field and NOT putting down ties with anything or anybody; you know the "love 'em and leave 'em" mode of operation. His emotions were raw as he explained he'd undergone treatment for prostrate cancer. I could feel the blood drain from my face, all I could do was listen because I knew if he had told me before now I probably would have been of little moral support.
Years ago. my Dad had been through a successful round of treatments for the same malady with me as his sidekick. Just thinking about it makes me cry to this day. It was one of the few times I'd seen my all-powerful Dad weakened. I don't know if I'll ever be able to offer that level of support to anyone else in this lifetime. I began to cry, I'm sure "L" thinks it's about him and his situation. In truth, I realize he needed more than I could ever offer.
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