About 15 years ago, my father separated from my mother. He had started a new relationship, which was initially very painful for my two sisters and me – especially painful for my mother. But we all adjusted to the situation, and the new wife brought two children into the new marriage. Eight years ago, the new wife was diagnosed with cancer. The disease became a taboo subject. During the long period of treatment and therapy, and eventual recovery, I never once spoke to my father's wife about her illness. She was initially healthy again. In 2019, the cancer returned. She was obviously getting worse, but no one ever talked about the illness. It was taboo. In the summer of 2020, she suddenly contracted coronavirus, was hospitalized, and died within a few days. No one was able to say goodbye to her. We should all have been more open with each other. She left behind a 14-year-old son and a 20-year-old daughter.
