Bella, I no longer use words such as 'love', 'wish', 'hope' and etc. My view is that they are used too carelessly, part of the general debasement of language and as good as impossible to define.

However, what your story describes to me is empathy which can only be achieved by the unselfish act of putting oneself in anothers 'shoes', so to speak.

Empathy is an unselfish act, as opposed to 'love', which in my view is more about self. Empathy often takes time, effort, considered though and genuine understanding of another. If there is such a thing as 'love' or if one simply wants to use the term because few will ever question it and most are conditioned to believe they understand what it means, then I think that empathy is what 'love' truly ought to be.

Your story suggests that this couple achieved that. If so, then they had something immensely rare and immensely important. When one truly puts another before oneself - for better or worse - whether uttered formally or not, then one has one of the most fulfilling connections possible for human beings, perhaps the greatest of experience.

Thank you for sharing.

Take care. Stay safe. ☮️