This is going to sound emo as all hell, but bear with it.
I found my love through pain.
We met at a club in school, became friends for many years. But there was always something strange in the way she acted, but i was the only one who seemed to notice.
We went out, nothing serious, teenage couple. But after much pushing and questioning, I discovered she had been horrible abused, physically, sexually and mentally for many years until mid-late teens (about a year or so before i found out) To the point of nearly being murdered by this person on several occasions.
So then i spend the next year and a half, slowly helping her to become human again, she had fears of everything, (mostly things relating to her abuse, Cameras, snow, strangers) And had developed severe psychological issues around self worth and the trust of others.
But eventually it started to work, she would smile more and more, she expressed a desire for a future, a desire for something more.
She beat all her fears, all her issues and i would say returned to herself, but she'd been lost for so long, it was more like she discovered a new self. And it all look set for a happy ending. We were talking about getting married when we were older and had been together longer, starting a family etc etc.
But unfortunately, i was diagnosed with supposedly terminal cancer around 8 months ago. Being told that if i hadnt got into hospital i would have died within two weeks. (fluid filling my lungs). And while they said i could last 9 months to 5 years (around 1/3rd make it to 3 years) They didnt sound hopeful for my short term chances.
But she stuck with me, she was on holiday in scotland with her family when i was admitted to hospital, but she took a train down as soon as possible, before we even knew it was cancer.
(One of the worst moments of my life, is finding out i probably have cancer, while she was on the train, and i couldn't tell her by text, so i had to make pleasant small talk on the phone for 3 hours till she got back)
And she stuck by me through all of it, stayed with me through hospital in the first few weeks as they drained my lunge and tried to find out what exactly was wrong and how to help.
Even when they told us that at best the chemo would reduce the tumour by a third, she stood by me, and i wouldn't have survived without her.
When they told me it was terminal, we decided to get married. When people found out, i know most of them thought i would be barely standing by the time it happend (roughly 2-3 months after being diagnosed)
But then something amazing happened. Chemo went well, obscenely well, for whatever reason, i don't suffer side effects. I don't get sick, or suffer pain, or lose my sense of taste, apart from losing my hair, i barely even noticed it.
Then about 8 weeks after begining treatment i went in for a scan, and the cancer was gone. (before anyone says it must have been a misdiagnosis, it wasn't i was stage 4, it was everywhere, completely on my deathbed)
And i have only felt better from there, We got married in November, My brother flew back from Canada when he heard what was going on, and he was my best man. It was the best night of my life.
I just finished Chemo, and am now just on small maintenance for a year.
My hair's growing back, i'm as strong as i ever was and my body still looks cancer free.
The doctors have said it could come back, but they honestly dont know, since they've never seen anyone with a reaction like this.
We've both got places for college in September, me as an engineer, her as a teacher.
I know my odds aren't great, but they're better than the zero they were. And we're happy, for whatever time we have left, although it will hopefully be a long time.
And as i so very often comment whenever i bring up our romance. My life sounds like a steriotipical shitty Romance/Tragedy Novel