A Letter to my Valentine

My social media has been filled today with people posting photos, love notes, and odes to their valentines. I decided to join the club and write a letter to my valentine. I am sharing it below:

Dear Valentine,

You are the longest relationship that I have been in, yet it continues to be an abusive, unhealthy, and toxic one. You have wrecked me physically in unimaginable ways, both internally, and visibly from the outside. You force me to regularly fill my body with poisons, and spend my time in places nobody should ever have to be. I never know how kind or harsh you are going to be, and I always have to be on my toes, one step ahead.

You have held me back from spending time with my friends and family, and pursuing my interests outside of you. There are days that you have forced me to live in hiding. You have even made me change my appearance, and dictated the way I dress, and how I present myself to the world.

I tried breaking up with you in the past when I was just a teenager, and I thought you were out of my life forever. But here you are, back causing havoc in my mind, body, and soul, and leaving a trail of pain behind for my family and friends to have to deal with. However, now there is no more getting rid of you, no matter how much I try. We are stuck together.

Cancer, you are the worst valentine's day date a woman (especially a single one without a "real" valentine) could ever ask for. Instead of flowers, chocolates, and a nice dinner, over the next two weeks, you are bringing me chemotherapy, anti-seizure medicines, another round of brain radiation, additional hair loss and continued sadness.

My valentine, all I can say, is I hope one day, with continued research, we can transition our abusive relationship to one of stability and calmness, so we can be at peace with each other.

Sincerely,

Rebecca