I am 27M and was recently married (it’s only been 2 months).
My mother was diagnosed with cancer in August 2024. She fought bravely through chemo, surgery, and radiation. The main treatment lasted about 8-9 months, followed by a year of oral hormonal therapy. She had a difficult life from the beginning married to an alcoholic and abusive man who took no responsibility. She raised me single-handedly and poured all her effort into me.
When I was 12, my parents had a huge argument and my father poured diluted acid on both of us. Even then, my mom forgave him and we continued living together. She endured physical abuse from him but never shared it with anyone. I was too young and could only stand there helplessly watching it all.
When I was 18, my father suffered his first cardiac stroke, which cut off blood supply to his leg. My mother took care of him tirelessly. We didn’t have much money, so he was treated in a government hospital where the conditions for attendants were pathetic. Still, she stayed by his side for 20 days with almost no proper food or sleep.
I got a job at 22, moved to a different state, and went through a bad breakup that left me numb for three years. I was (and still am) a mess.
Then in 2024, my mom was diagnosed with cancer. I was devastated. I knew she had never had an easy life, and it felt like God kept punishing her for being a decent human being. Thanks to my job and insurance, we started her treatment at a reputed hospital.
She was adamant that she didn’t want to tell anyone about the cancer. She fought it mostly alone.
After treatment began, she changed. She became physically weak and, for the first time in her life, stopped working and actually rested. But she fought through it all. We completed the full treatment cycle and she moved to oral medication.
After her surgery, there was a day when some stitches came loose. I was exhausted from work and other personal issues, and when I heard the news on my way back from the office, I lost my temper and took my anger out on her. I deeply regret it.
The oral medication was very expensive and not covered by insurance. One day she lost a sheet of tablets and I again lost my cool with her. I can’t forgive myself for that.
When she was first diagnosed, my father was still being an asshole and even told her once, “You deserve that.”
In February 2025, I met someone, fell in love, and got married in March 2026. My mom was genuinely happy to see me getting married. Unfortunately, her follow-up scans were scheduled for February 2026, but we delayed them until April because of the wedding preparations. I was wrong — I should have done the tests in January itself.
We got married and everything went well on the surface. But my mom was very weak. I thought it was just side effects from the oral medication. After the wedding, we did the scans and discovered the cancer had spread to her liver. She was devastated, but we started treatment again.
Around this time, my father surprisingly stepped up and began genuinely taking care of her.
We had to move homes, which was very stressful for her. Me, my wife, and my mother were living in an uncomfortable place where summer temperatures reached 38–40°C.
After the first chemo cycle, there was a gap in treatment. My in-laws gifted us a honeymoon trip. Since we had some time, we went for three days. The day we left, my mother was feeling slightly better. She said goodbye and, even though she had little money, gave us some for the honeymoon.
We flew out on Thursday afternoon. On the flight, my wife and I had a huge argument about the lies she had told and the personality she had faked to marry me. I was in shock and didn’t know what to do. She is a good person, but she is no longer the woman I fell in love with.
The next morning (Friday), I received a call saying my mother had passed away. We rushed back that night. The next morning I saw her cold and lifeless, yet still with that gentle smile on her face.
I don’t know what to do with my life. I loved her so much, but I wish I had been a better son. I wish I had taken better care of her. I wish I had been by her side more.
My wife is also grieving, but I’m unable to support her right now. I feel like a fucking loser and a disappointment.
Used AI for grammar and spelling checks