Chapter 7 - Megan’s illness
Megan was diagnosed with metastatic breast cancer eighteen months before she died.
She told me first after Adam.
Ryan knew she was sick but not initially how serious.
Treatment worked for a while.
Then did not.
During the final six months, Megan and I met repeatedly with:
Her attorney.
A hospital social worker.
Ryan’s therapist.
School counselor.
We planned.
Because I was already Ryan’s legal father, there was no need for a secret guardianship transfer.
Upon Megan’s death, I would remain his parent.
But practical arrangements mattered.
School.
Housing.
Grief treatment.
Contact with Adam.
Ryan’s possessions.
Megan insisted:
“He should not lose me and then discover he is a secret in the same month.”
I promised:
“He won’t.”
That promise was documented in a social-worker case note.
Not emotional prophecy.
A care-planning record.
Father states spouse will be informed prior to mother entering hospice phase.
I had signed beneath the meeting summary.
Claire read it later.
That signature became worse than any lie I could claim I never remembered making.
Then Megan entered hospice.
I still did not tell Claire.
I told myself:
Not while Claire is helping Lily start kindergarten.
Not before holidays.
Not while Megan may live another six months.
She lived eight weeks.
May you like
Ryan watched me promise something to a dying woman.
Then watched me break it immediately.
