It was Christmas Eve in Santa Fe, New Mexico, in 2002. We had been married just three months. We were making the icy, traditional Canyon Road walk with our friends Sandra and Daniel. Corinne was looking forward to her new job, cooking with Sandra.

While we each still wrestled with the demons and burdens of our past lives, we were at peace with each other. We were in love. I believed that cancer was behind me. Corinne had never given a thought to the idea that cancer could be in her future. We now know that the cancer was probably within her at that time.

We’re still in love. We prefer each other’s company over all others. It amazes each of us that we are able to spend all of our time together without any serious strain.

Because the future is so potentially dangerous to us, we have been thinking in the present and living in the present. Though painful at times, it has been the only safe place for us. During the past year, our plans have rarely extended as far out as two months.

We don’t know where we’re going with this unwanted gift we’ve been handed. But we do know that we’re going together.

Corinne asked to write the last words of this book: “Now we wait…”