my Love is You, (you are more than the sum of your parts)

"Will you still love me if i lose the other one?"

She grasped and cupped her left breast, size D in her left hand, supporting it with her right.

He twitched in nervousness, not quite sure how to respond. She had had the right one surgically removed a week ago and was recovering well. The removal had predictably affected her feminine psychological disposition. There had been no discussion between her husband and she concerning any potential affects or venues for sexual activities.

"Well, i have one left. The tests show that i can keep this one. You'll at least have one to play with."

She looked at him from the pillow, headboard side of the bed waiting for his response. He stared dumbfounded, still unable to offer a response . He was afraid he would offend her in one way or another.

"Of course I love you."

"But will you still love me. I'm flat on this side. Like a boy."

"You're not a boy!"

"Yes, but I've lost everything."

Her right chest was exposed revealing a terrible reddened area covered by its synthetic skin graft.

"No you haven't. You have one left and I'm glad you're gonna keep it. Of course it's enough. If i lost one ball would you still love me?"

"You know that your balls don't make who you are."

"Well, in the same way, your breasts are important. You lost one. You still have one, that's what matters. If you lost both it would have hurt you more."

He wanted to use the word devastated but he gingerly chose his response of words.

"You are more than your breasts. Your'e still a woman. I married you ten years ago and we've enjoyed each other. Makes no difference now. I wish you had not had to go through surgery, but your life is more important. They got the cancer out. Yes. I love you even with just one breast."

"Could you please hand me my diaper?"

She was referring to the soft white triangular cloth covering which was used to bandage the wound. He grabbed it and carefully placed it on the left side of her chest. She helped in its placement.

Tears began to flow. She cried silently. It broke his heart.

"Please don't cry." He hated her crying.

"I wish they would have removed a part of my body rather than yours." He offered a gesture of sacrifice to deal with the heavy moment of awkwardness.

"Don't say that. It's me. It is what it is. I'll be okay. I just want to know you won't leave me for another woman."

"Look at me!" He demanded. He grabbed her by her chin between the finger and thumb of his free hand and said, ". . . I LOVE you. I would love you even if you lost both breasts. I thank God you have one. The other will be replaced with a prosthesis.

He risked a feeble attempt at sardonic humor, "Think of the replacement as a b**b job."

He looked at her face for hint of a hopeful reaction. He felt relief when he saw the corners of her mouth upturn in a slight smile.

"Women have b**b jobs all the time, right?" Modern medicine. Modern technology. Wonderful stuff. You'll be okay. I'm here for you and with you all the way."

She raised both arms and pulled him into her. He followed the magnetic draw of her invitation just as he had for the past 10 years of their married life. He drew her carefully and lovingly toward his own breast as he bowed his upper torso to conjoin with hers so as not to hurt her wound.

"I am in love with your spirit. Your mind. Your soul. I am in love with the beauty of your face." He whispered softly into her ear. He felt the beating of her heart. He paused to . reflect on its sound. Her body relaxed and her breathing slowed to calm.

"I love your mind. Your person."

He pulled himself away slightly, raised his head to meet the gaze of her eyes with hers. Her eyes had been closed. She opened them and looked into his.

"Thank you. I can't do this without you."

"And I can't live without you." He answered.

He then placed his lips on hers and kissed her. Hers were cold from trauma. His were warm with passion and sincerity.

"Now, I know you're hungry. What would you like to eat?"

"If I could, you!" She feigned.

"Well, let's give it a few days okay?"

It was at this moment that he knew things between them would soon return to normal. It all depended upon his being a loving caregiver. It would all depend upon him nurturing her with thoughtful words and kind support. It would all depend on his patience and willingness to endure his own pain of losing sleep and suffering by placing her needs first and his on hold until she mended.