a slice of reality

i cannot adequately describe what i am feeling -- happy, sad, mixed...a colleague of mine, junior in age by two decades, tells me that the guy she loves, has cancer. so casual when she mentioned, i was literally, stumped. i did not know how much to probe, how much to conceal my surprise... but one thing has lasted since i heard it... my respect for this little colleague of mine.
Insha Allah, as they say, things should just work out between the two young hearts...