A woman has revealed the devastating last words her husband said to her before he left – and why their 25-year marriage went up in flames after her cancer diagnosis.
Helena was diagnosed with Multiple Myeloma two years ago and said her husband was initially “wonderful” and took care of the house and their pets.
The first round of treatment was ‘terrible’ for Helena; she suffered from all possible side effects and was left with a large tumor on her chest and a bent back.
“I’m not sure when it started, but my husband stopped coming to bed and started sleeping on the couch,” she said on Reddit. “He wouldn’t go to doctor’s appointments unless I specifically asked him to go. He wouldn’t give me hugs, otherwise they would be half-hearted.’
Everything came to a head on New Year’s Eve, when her husband shouted, “Congratulations, your worst nightmare is coming true.” You’re going to die alone.’
A woman has revealed the devastating last words her husband said to her before he left
Helena explained the lead-up to their heated conversation.
‘Before, it seemed like the more I explained that I needed his love, affection and support, the more he made it a point to deny me.
‘I finally confronted him about it just before Christmas. But he just shut down. The more I pushed him to talk to me, the meaner he got. He told me I would die alone as I begged him to tell me what was happening.
‘What was wrong? What had I done? He shouted at me that he didn’t want to marry me anymore. That was New Year’s Eve.’
Helena’s husband left that evening and refused to talk to her.
He comes by their house to pick up his tools or whatever he needs for work, but he has completely withdrawn financially.
“He stopped paying my car payment and it was seized. He hasn’t made the mortgage payment. Luckily the power is still on and it didn’t turn off my phone. I am disabled due to my previous job, but that is not nearly enough.
‘We have two dogs and five cats that I have to take care of. I am physically unable to do most household chores, although I try my best. He still hasn’t told me what the problems are in our relationship. All this has blinded me.’
Helena said that although she knew her cancer was the problem, she didn’t think there was anything wrong with their relationship.
‘Until he left, he called and chatted several times a day, but he still told me he loved me. But also punishing me almost subversively.’
Helena revealed she has been a ‘crying mess’ for months and doesn’t know how to move on.
“How can someone who has loved you for more than half our lives suddenly become so mean and uncaring? He was a sweet, affectionate, protective husband until he wasn’t. I can’t think about it. How does he justify it in his mind?’
Helena was diagnosed with Multiple Myeloma two years ago (stock image)
Many were shocked by the husband’s behavior.
‘This is my nightmare. Being abandoned by the person you love most in your greatest time of need,” said one.
But some shared similar horror stories.
‘After fourteen years of being with my wife, I was diagnosed with a serious illness. A switch went off in my wife and she became mean and angry and said she would never have married me if she knew this was going to happen.
“She told me she wished it was her because she would rather die than waste the rest of her life with me,” one man said.
Another wrote, “I didn’t realize how unusual it was that my father remained a loving husband after my primary breadwinner mother became permanently disabled. For most men, marriage vows seem to mean ‘for better until you can serve me longer.’