[Citroënbender]

One of my closest friends starts chemotherapy tomorrow.

For him, it will extend his life an unknown amount. An undetected cancer spread through his body until it was - suddenly - no longer undetectable. He is stressed, terrified, and it’s compounded by his present choice to tell almost nobody. Maybe a dozen people know.

He and I talk about “the barbed wire fence”, alluding to the prison camps. Even if one escapes, there will be scarring. Yes, I will be there for him as a brother, unlike so many of the hollow offers to help, but it doesn’t change the deep sorrow at being unable to take on some of the physical suffering.