I spent the afternoon with my friend D. It seemed as if she had beaten breast cancer a few years ago, but just learned that it has spread to her bones, and the doctors have called it “incurable.” When I received the news, via an email from a mutual friend, while riding the train home from work, my heart sank as low as it could sink.

This was the first time I had seen/spoken to her and I felt very fortunate that she had asked me to accompany and drive her to a couple of art openings because her pain meds make it difficult to drive. I had so many questions to ask her… some of which I asked, others of which I was afraid to ask because it was too terrible to contemplate. I guess you could say I was protecting myself, almost as much as I wanted to protect her. I am not sure how I would handle it if I were in her situation.

I can take comfort and inspiration in her will to live, which is strong and resolute. I cling to the hope that treatment can slow it down or even restore some of what she has lost in her bone mass. I cling to the word–restore. I know it can happen.