You Only Deserve Love When You’re Sick.
She learned, at a young age, that you only deserve love when you’re sick. It’s the only time you’re allowed to expect flowers and gifts. It’s the only time you get a break from cleaning. It’s the only time you can ask for help.
As a child, a cold was enough. But the older she got, the sicker she had to be. She was livid when her sister got cancer. That was the ultimate sickness. She could ask for anything. She could ask her sisters to come babysit, to cook.
Cancer — How unfair. That was the disease no one could argue with. She wouldn’t have to help mom move, or go to her godson’s confirmation. She had a free pass to miss family events for a whole year.
She was livid when her sister lost her hair to chemo. She posted a picture on Facebook in the chair. Everyone left internet hugs and supportive comments.
She could have cancer, she thought. There could be cancer running through her bones and blood right now, undetected.
So she began having tests done. Everything came back negative.
“You’re a very healthy woman,” the doctor said. It wasn’t fair. She was going to have to donate to her nephew’s fundraiser, attend his games, log in to view competitions over Zoom. She was going to have to host Thanksgiving dinner. She was going to have to drive all the way…
