Just when I get my stoic and emotionless John Wayne face back together and I'm feelin' all macho, I read another of your stories and it all falls apart. Your stories remind me of how much I have seen and how hardened my defensive emotions have become. (Not the combat of a war theater, but too many other rude experiences, bodies, and suffering humanity)
Your works remind me to look at my beautiful wife and realize how grateful I am. There is a power of good in them as well as magnificent craftsmanship. Not many have such talent that they can craft a story that also helps heal the reader.
You've hit another one out of the park! I'm emotionally wrung out, and my husband is threatening to buy stock in a tissue company. I went through a whole blasted box, and I still get weepy remembering scenes. By the end of the story, Dean and Amy felt like cherished friends. You breathed life into the characters, and I, for one, can point to a few acquaintances and say, "He reminds me of Max." Or, when I'm grumpy, "What a bitch! Just like that Dixie!"
Your imagery is amazing--I've rarely read better. Emotions are true to life, and you make stories believable to the people who have actually "been there, done that". I'm talking about PTSD, combat, cancer patients, nurses, and the families huddled in waiting rooms, praying for good news. Sorry, got carried away.
Rambling, long-winded post, and I'll cut to the chase...This is one of the finest short stories I've ever read. I don't think you even grasp your impact on readers. You are simply amazing.
Now, get cracking on another story!
One hell of a story, you succeeded in conveying the fear, (a) of PTSD and (b) of cancer, as a vet who has been through the one,you make me thankful that I and my partner of 55 years have not had to go through the other. Great story, one of the best on Lit for a long time.
by
Anonymous02/12/13
and the tears came
when i read this story i wonderd where you were headed. When Dean found the lump i knew. I thought of my mom and my tears began to flow. she faced life after her operation with no mate, just us kids. she sucked it up and went about raising us. Afterward she felt so self conscius she never dated. My wife of 44 years has asked over the years what would we do if she had breast cancer. She knew what my answer would be before it left my lips. "they are part of you, But they are NOT you. As any present or former Marine will tell you. "always faithful" is not just an expression it is a COMMITMENT. We have grown old together our love has gotten stronger over the decades. We have faced many crisis in our lives, but as you so wonderfully put it "Together-You and Me"
THANK YOU
I don't know how I missed the first chapter but I am glad I found it. Life is full of this kind of stuff and you have done a masterful job of telling it. Thank You.
by
Anonymous02/21/13
Amazing story
I love this story so much. It's one of the best i've read and the ending was such a relief!
by
Anonymous04/23/13
I cried
through every line.
Last year I cared for my oldest sister as she recovered from her double breast surgery. Brave ladies.
SS1969
After reading both stories over yesterday and today, I can certainly understand why there were so many requests for the epilogue. I'm glad I got to read both together, and didn't have to wait. I'm also glad that you had the volunteer come in and talk to Amy about the options for reconstruction. It's so important now a days for women to realize that these options do exist, and it's not like it used to be 20 or 30 years ago. That's not to say that it's not a traumatic ordeal, because it is, but I think it helps to make the choice just a little bit easier.
You're writing is beautiful, and i loved how you turned this chapter into Dean having to support Amy the way she supported him years ago. It's a very good depiction of the realities of marriages and long term relationships that are give and take.
My wife died july 1 2009 of cancer. She had stomach pain and it would not go away. I was out of town. My daughter said she had had enough of this and took Pam to hospital. When everything was said and done, they found my wife's cancer and she died from related complications all in the same day.
They kept her alive until I could get home and say good by. Her last words were I love you.
Sometimes it still hurts
by
Anonymous02/13/14
You touched my heart
I suffered a cancer scare at 19. My mom's mother died at 37 having fought battle after battle, surgery after surgery, against ovarian & uterine cancer until the cancer won the last round, leaving her daughter's 16 & 13 with out their mother and with a lifetime fear they would die young. When I was suddenly in a situation where pain & ultrasound results pointed in a scary direction (showing my ovaries being orange and grapefruit size instead of the "normal" walnut). I saw the fear in my mom's eyes as they had me in surgery within 2 weeks. Thankfully it was NOT cancer! Though the "relief" of it's "Only" endometriosis, was short lived after more surgeries and treatments, I had to have a hysterectomy and both ovaries removed 3 weeks before turning 21, and a lifetime of effects.
You masterfully show the fears, trauma, and anger for an individual dealing with a health crisis and for those who truly love them!
My wife successfully fought colon cancer and is still doing fine. I saw the fear and the strength she had. I was her Dean. We fought it together. Every appointment, every treatment, every surgery.
You caught the terror perfectly for both Amy and Dean. I hope none of the readers have to go through this hell but if they do, I hope they all have a Dean with them
The reference to the American Cancer Society was great. I really appreciated the help our friends and family gave us, from cleaning the house, shopping or just sitting with my wife during chemo treatments.
Keep up the good work. This was an awesome story
by
Anonymous04/17/14
Excellent story
I lived this story. My wife learned of her Brest cancer at age 33. She had her Breast removed and lived for an additional 4 years. Except for the end those were the best years of my life. We lived for each day and didn't spend time writing on the next vacation or holiday. Your story touched on a very important topic. I loved my wife's breasts! I spent countless hours worshiping those wonderful orbs. Feeling, caressing, kissing, sucking, licking, grabbing, fucking, and she was deathly afraid that I would no longer desire her. It was some time after the surgery when we first had sex. I had to get her a little looped. The first thing I did after I had stripped her was to kiss and caress the area where her breast had been removed and then on we went yo our usual great sex! The cancer returned and I eventually lost her to that insidious disease. I am still the luckiest man on earth for the 20 years we had together. She passed away in 1987 and a day doesn't pass that isn't filled with thoughts of her. We have 4 wonderful children and I still miss you Diane...
Love story.... true love.... makes your realize how lucky some people are to have Agape love.... love no matter what happens, good/bad. Support from spouses can be the healing medicines that cause miracles to happen. Wonderful story and also a true story that can be probably told by millions of people with little variation. Keep up the good, no great work...!!!
This is one of the most heart jurking stories I have ever read on this site . Thank to Robert for making enough of an impression on you to write the ending of Chapter for this wonderful story .
Side note my wife is three days post-mastectomy surgery so it hit very close to my heart . 9/25/14
but I don't understand why you had to kill off all the supportive people from part 1. The counselor, Molly, et al. Why couldn't they have been there for her as well?
and what is your thing with deadly fires?
I agree with some previous comments pertaining to killing off characters. This story was extremely well written but could be improved. I rated 5* but it still seems unfinished.
This was such a strong story. This hit home on both topics. I had 2 good friends that made it home from Nam but where never the same. One ended it 3 years later and the other just survives-doesn't live anymore. This brought the first tears to my eyes as I remembered. Second my wife went through 2 cancer scares with 2 surgeries. She is now a survivor but I remember the terrible, tough times we went through. Yes, we went through them together and it was very hard on both of us. This brought on the second set of tears as I remembered what we both went through. This was a very emotional story for me and took me a long time to finish. Thank You for such a great, wonderful and emotional story.
by
Anonymous01/29/15
In more than 5 years of reading literotica, I have never left a comment no matter how good or touching a story is. This story compels me to leave a comment. Kudos to you. The story was well written and the characters emotions and triumphs really resonate with me . Well done and thank you for writing this.
My first wife commited suicide by carbon monoxide in the garage...I found her at 5:30 am., too late. We had two kids, 3 yrs and 2 weeks. Tore me apart. With the help of family and friends we got over it and I have now been married 31 years to a lovely lady. Life goes on. Your story struck several chords...thank you. And, Thank You to the vet who convinced you to write the epilogue.
by
Anonymous08/17/15
Bloody Good
My late wife did not have a Mastectomy (her cancer was an aggressive internal bastard).
But I know something of what you write; and you've done it very, very well.
And I now know something of PTSD.
Thank you.
HP
Terrific story, well paced and believable. It appears that you did some research based on your narrative of Amy's medical issues.
by
Anonymous12/27/15
Very Good Story
Thank You! Top story! I had tears in my eyes and a knot in my stomach while reading this story Oh please write more like this one? Love you all! Bye. Greg. 10 STARS
by
Anonymous01/11/16
More
I would like to see an extension to this story. So nice and beautiful. The way a love
story should be. Perhaps, first time they take a shower together, or, when he buys
a black gown with a slit up the side and gets caught as a spy.
Also, daughter, Willow graduation, birth of first grand child. Maybe a little violence
when he has to save wife again from an embarrassing situation.
Thank you again for a beautiful story--Semper Fi!
It needs finishing. You need to show how the changes in her body affect their love life. Also you could show how their fantasies lead to interesting sex games. You could explore how the new nerve paths in her chest could be stimulated during sex.
by
Anonymous02/04/16
I DARE ANYONE TO SAY THAT THIS STORY IS NOT GOOD
Here is a great story in every way shape or form. I loved the story Thank You 10 stars Love you all! Bye.
by
Anonymous05/03/16
GREAT STORY DOSEN'T TOUCH THIS ONE
written by someone who seems to have "been there, done that, and got the tee shirt" . A real life story, but you could give us a few more chapters. This surely isn't the finish, I hope !!!
Oh my. Glad she survived. Miss mine terribly. Great Story, wonderful writing, and such love.
by
Anonymous09/26/16
Damned good
A perfect end to their tale.
Your detailing of PTSD and the stress of mastectomy makes me think you've been there.
Been there, done that. Sadly, mine (gut cancer) didn't make it.
The story 'flowed'; it made sense, it provoked emotion.
It was bloody GREAT!
Thank you
HP
by
Anonymous10/17/16
How can you improve on perfection?
If you want to tell us more about Amy and Dean, I'll gladly read it, but you don't need to do so. Your stories cannot be improved. Dean singing to Amy as she lies in her hospital bed recovering is a perfect ending. I wept again. Thank you!!
In this continuation is played a very dramatic subject, the great killer that is cancer.
My mother and my uncles (her brothers), died with cancer, so I know what the feelings are described here.
I am glad that the author finished the story with a happy ending, although on the way left great friends of Dean and Amy.
Today, much has been improved on the treatment of breast cancer, obtaining a high rate of recovery, if the disease is detected in time, a friend's wife has recovered, a wife's cousin, too, even a Of my sister-in-law has recovered from a cancerous condition of the blood. Support from your partners and family is vital to avoid falling into destructive depression.
As Dean says in the story:
Semper Fi!
5 * for you.
I apologize for my English (yet), is not my native language.
English
Damn, you are good!
Just when I get my stoic and emotionless John Wayne face back together and I'm feelin' all macho, I read another of your stories and it all falls apart. Your stories remind me of how much I have seen and how hardened my defensive emotions have become. (Not the combat of a war theater, but too many other rude experiences, bodies, and suffering humanity)
Your works remind me to look at my beautiful wife and realize how grateful I am. There is a power of good in them as well as magnificent craftsmanship. Not many have such talent that they can craft a story that also helps heal the reader.
Thank you and bless you!
With Emotions Untold
The person before me said ti all! Just double it.
Wow! Just wow!
You've hit another one out of the park! I'm emotionally wrung out, and my husband is threatening to buy stock in a tissue company. I went through a whole blasted box, and I still get weepy remembering scenes. By the end of the story, Dean and Amy felt like cherished friends. You breathed life into the characters, and I, for one, can point to a few acquaintances and say, "He reminds me of Max." Or, when I'm grumpy, "What a bitch! Just like that Dixie!"
Your imagery is amazing--I've rarely read better. Emotions are true to life, and you make stories believable to the people who have actually "been there, done that". I'm talking about PTSD, combat, cancer patients, nurses, and the families huddled in waiting rooms, praying for good news. Sorry, got carried away.
Rambling, long-winded post, and I'll cut to the chase...This is one of the finest short stories I've ever read. I don't think you even grasp your impact on readers. You are simply amazing.
Now, get cracking on another story!
Fantastic
One hell of a story, you succeeded in conveying the fear, (a) of PTSD and (b) of cancer, as a vet who has been through the one,you make me thankful that I and my partner of 55 years have not had to go through the other. Great story, one of the best on Lit for a long time.
and the tears came
when i read this story i wonderd where you were headed. When Dean found the lump i knew. I thought of my mom and my tears began to flow. she faced life after her operation with no mate, just us kids. she sucked it up and went about raising us. Afterward she felt so self conscius she never dated. My wife of 44 years has asked over the years what would we do if she had breast cancer. She knew what my answer would be before it left my lips. "they are part of you, But they are NOT you. As any present or former Marine will tell you. "always faithful" is not just an expression it is a COMMITMENT. We have grown old together our love has gotten stronger over the decades. We have faced many crisis in our lives, but as you so wonderfully put it "Together-You and Me"
THANK YOU
Damn......
Many thanks for allowing us the honor of reading this.
Thx
Great story
I don't know how I missed the first chapter but I am glad I found it. Life is full of this kind of stuff and you have done a masterful job of telling it. Thank You.
Amazing story
I love this story so much. It's one of the best i've read and the ending was such a relief!
I cried
through every line.
Last year I cared for my oldest sister as she recovered from her double breast surgery. Brave ladies.
SS1969
I sobbed
What a gorgeous story.
Thankyou
Very Beautiful
After reading both stories over yesterday and today, I can certainly understand why there were so many requests for the epilogue. I'm glad I got to read both together, and didn't have to wait. I'm also glad that you had the volunteer come in and talk to Amy about the options for reconstruction. It's so important now a days for women to realize that these options do exist, and it's not like it used to be 20 or 30 years ago. That's not to say that it's not a traumatic ordeal, because it is, but I think it helps to make the choice just a little bit easier.
You're writing is beautiful, and i loved how you turned this chapter into Dean having to support Amy the way she supported him years ago. It's a very good depiction of the realities of marriages and long term relationships that are give and take.
did my crying on first one
My wife died july 1 2009 of cancer. She had stomach pain and it would not go away. I was out of town. My daughter said she had had enough of this and took Pam to hospital. When everything was said and done, they found my wife's cancer and she died from related complications all in the same day.
They kept her alive until I could get home and say good by. Her last words were I love you.
Sometimes it still hurts
You touched my heart
I suffered a cancer scare at 19. My mom's mother died at 37 having fought battle after battle, surgery after surgery, against ovarian & uterine cancer until the cancer won the last round, leaving her daughter's 16 & 13 with out their mother and with a lifetime fear they would die young. When I was suddenly in a situation where pain & ultrasound results pointed in a scary direction (showing my ovaries being orange and grapefruit size instead of the "normal" walnut). I saw the fear in my mom's eyes as they had me in surgery within 2 weeks. Thankfully it was NOT cancer! Though the "relief" of it's "Only" endometriosis, was short lived after more surgeries and treatments, I had to have a hysterectomy and both ovaries removed 3 weeks before turning 21, and a lifetime of effects.
You masterfully show the fears, trauma, and anger for an individual dealing with a health crisis and for those who truly love them!
Five for Five
My wife successfully fought colon cancer and is still doing fine. I saw the fear and the strength she had. I was her Dean. We fought it together. Every appointment, every treatment, every surgery.
You caught the terror perfectly for both Amy and Dean. I hope none of the readers have to go through this hell but if they do, I hope they all have a Dean with them
The reference to the American Cancer Society was great. I really appreciated the help our friends and family gave us, from cleaning the house, shopping or just sitting with my wife during chemo treatments.
Keep up the good work. This was an awesome story
Excellent story
I lived this story. My wife learned of her Brest cancer at age 33. She had her Breast removed and lived for an additional 4 years. Except for the end those were the best years of my life. We lived for each day and didn't spend time writing on the next vacation or holiday. Your story touched on a very important topic. I loved my wife's breasts! I spent countless hours worshiping those wonderful orbs. Feeling, caressing, kissing, sucking, licking, grabbing, fucking, and she was deathly afraid that I would no longer desire her. It was some time after the surgery when we first had sex. I had to get her a little looped. The first thing I did after I had stripped her was to kiss and caress the area where her breast had been removed and then on we went yo our usual great sex! The cancer returned and I eventually lost her to that insidious disease. I am still the luckiest man on earth for the 20 years we had together. She passed away in 1987 and a day doesn't pass that isn't filled with thoughts of her. We have 4 wonderful children and I still miss you Diane...
Not many things make me tear up. But I had to stop a few times to wipe my tears away so I could keep reading. Damn good work sir. Damn good.
Once again
Damn, just Damn.
Real tears
Real tears. Don't shed them often.
OMG
Tears. Speechless. Rememberance. Thank You...
Kind of disappointed
... that I could only give it a 5. Both pieces were wonderful love stories. I've read them before and I'll surely read them again. Thank you!
VisualPerv
Soooo Romantic
It is really a story that tells what true love is.
nothing dramatic post in garbage for wackos
dream bout
2 star
Outstanding
Love story.... true love.... makes your realize how lucky some people are to have Agape love.... love no matter what happens, good/bad. Support from spouses can be the healing medicines that cause miracles to happen. Wonderful story and also a true story that can be probably told by millions of people with little variation. Keep up the good, no great work...!!!
DAMN What a Story
This is one of the most heart jurking stories I have ever read on this site . Thank to Robert for making enough of an impression on you to write the ending of Chapter for this wonderful story .
Side note my wife is three days post-mastectomy surgery so it hit very close to my heart . 9/25/14
Thank you again
TX CRACKER
yes it was touching and emotional
yes it was well told.
but I don't understand why you had to kill off all the supportive people from part 1. The counselor, Molly, et al. Why couldn't they have been there for her as well?
and what is your thing with deadly fires?
Emotional!!
I agree with some previous comments pertaining to killing off characters. This story was extremely well written but could be improved. I rated 5* but it still seems unfinished.
feels
Such an emotional story. I loved it though
Wow!
This was such a strong story. This hit home on both topics. I had 2 good friends that made it home from Nam but where never the same. One ended it 3 years later and the other just survives-doesn't live anymore. This brought the first tears to my eyes as I remembered. Second my wife went through 2 cancer scares with 2 surgeries. She is now a survivor but I remember the terrible, tough times we went through. Yes, we went through them together and it was very hard on both of us. This brought on the second set of tears as I remembered what we both went through. This was a very emotional story for me and took me a long time to finish. Thank You for such a great, wonderful and emotional story.
In more than 5 years of reading literotica, I have never left a comment no matter how good or touching a story is. This story compels me to leave a comment. Kudos to you. The story was well written and the characters emotions and triumphs really resonate with me . Well done and thank you for writing this.
Hell of a story
My first wife commited suicide by carbon monoxide in the garage...I found her at 5:30 am., too late. We had two kids, 3 yrs and 2 weeks. Tore me apart. With the help of family and friends we got over it and I have now been married 31 years to a lovely lady. Life goes on. Your story struck several chords...thank you. And, Thank You to the vet who convinced you to write the epilogue.
Bloody Good
My late wife did not have a Mastectomy (her cancer was an aggressive internal bastard).
But I know something of what you write; and you've done it very, very well.
And I now know something of PTSD.
Thank you.
HP
Wonderful!
Terrific story, well paced and believable. It appears that you did some research based on your narrative of Amy's medical issues.
Very Good Story
Thank You! Top story! I had tears in my eyes and a knot in my stomach while reading this story Oh please write more like this one? Love you all! Bye. Greg. 10 STARS
More
I would like to see an extension to this story. So nice and beautiful. The way a love
story should be. Perhaps, first time they take a shower together, or, when he buys
a black gown with a slit up the side and gets caught as a spy.
Also, daughter, Willow graduation, birth of first grand child. Maybe a little violence
when he has to save wife again from an embarrassing situation.
Thank you again for a beautiful story--Semper Fi!
Great story
It needs finishing. You need to show how the changes in her body affect their love life. Also you could show how their fantasies lead to interesting sex games. You could explore how the new nerve paths in her chest could be stimulated during sex.
I DARE ANYONE TO SAY THAT THIS STORY IS NOT GOOD
Here is a great story in every way shape or form. I loved the story Thank You 10 stars Love you all! Bye.
GREAT STORY DOSEN'T TOUCH THIS ONE
written by someone who seems to have "been there, done that, and got the tee shirt" . A real life story, but you could give us a few more chapters. This surely isn't the finish, I hope !!!
Tears
Oh my. Glad she survived. Miss mine terribly. Great Story, wonderful writing, and such love.
Damned good
A perfect end to their tale.
Your detailing of PTSD and the stress of mastectomy makes me think you've been there.
Been there, done that. Sadly, mine (gut cancer) didn't make it.
The story 'flowed'; it made sense, it provoked emotion.
It was bloody GREAT!
Thank you
HP
How can you improve on perfection?
If you want to tell us more about Amy and Dean, I'll gladly read it, but you don't need to do so. Your stories cannot be improved. Dean singing to Amy as she lies in her hospital bed recovering is a perfect ending. I wept again. Thank you!!
As good as it is it could have been even better
as a new, unrelated, standalone story of it's own.
A dramatic continuation for a great romance!
In this continuation is played a very dramatic subject, the great killer that is cancer.
My mother and my uncles (her brothers), died with cancer, so I know what the feelings are described here.
I am glad that the author finished the story with a happy ending, although on the way left great friends of Dean and Amy.
Today, much has been improved on the treatment of breast cancer, obtaining a high rate of recovery, if the disease is detected in time, a friend's wife has recovered, a wife's cousin, too, even a Of my sister-in-law has recovered from a cancerous condition of the blood. Support from your partners and family is vital to avoid falling into destructive depression.
As Dean says in the story:
Semper Fi!
5 * for you.
I apologize for my English (yet), is not my native language.
DAMN GOOD!!!
Speaking as the son of a Vietnam veteran, you got the emotions right. I wish I could give you more than 5 stars. It's an awesome story thread.
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