ONE TRUE LOVE

I never believed that true love existed. My parents divorced when I was young and I didn't think that true love was able to survive in today's world. I was proven wrong.

My grandparents were always supportive of us kids and tried to help us when our parents divorced. I knew they loved each other, I just wasn't sure it was true love. I had never heard them say, "I love you" or show any affection other than hugging. They had been married for over fifty years and I thought that their true love was gone. But again I was wrong.

My grandfather, Ralph, was struck ill my junior year of college and we didn't know how serious it was until he fell and hurt his hip. While in the hospital, the doctors found out a tumor in his lungs. They told us that he had lung cancer and due to previous illnesses, they could not operate and he was too weak for chemotherapy. It was around Thanksgiving and by Christmas his condition worsened.

The cancer spread and in late January my sister, away at college too, called me crying and said she was on her way home because the doctors told our family that my grandfather had only a week to live, that by the weekend he would no longer be with us.

Our family came in from around the country and stayed next to his side. It was there I realized that true love does exist today and will survive beyond death. Every night as my grandfather grew more fragile, he would whisper sweet words to my grandmother, Madge. The night before he died my grandmother was walking out of his room and he said to her "I love you Madgie baby". The next morning I received a phone call at work that my grandfather had passed during the night.

Throughout his short battle with cancer, I realized how much two people can love each other and I realized how much it means to be loved and give love. It is the greatest gift on earth and it lasts beyond life because you never forget your one true love.