And a real, whole, radiant smile broke across her face.

“That,” she said, “is all I ever wanted.”

Chapter 17 — The Meaningful Months

The four months that followed were the hardest of my life, and also, without any competition, the most meaningful.

There were terrible days — days she could not swallow solid food, nights when the pain flared and would not be soothed, the whole grinding difficulty of caring for someone whose body is failing.

I will not pretend those months were gentle.