Dearest, I feel certain I am going mad again. I feel we can't go through another of these terrible times. And I shan't recover this time. I begin to hear voices, and can't concentrate. So I am doing what seems the best thing to do. You have given me the greatest possible happiness. You have been in every way all that anyone could be. I don't think two people could have been happier till this terrible disease came. I can't fight any longer, I know that I am spoiling your life, that without me you could work. And you will I know. You see I can't even write this properly. I can't read. What I want to say is I owe all the happiness of my life to you. You have been entirely patient with me and incredibly good. I want to say that - everybody knows it. If anybody could have saved me it would have been you. Everything has gone from me but the certainty of your goodness. I can't go on spoiling your life any longer. I don't think two people could have been happier than we have been.
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- The author writes a final letter expressing love and despair, believing illness is spoiling her partner's life.
- In plain terms
- A person writes to their partner saying they are unwell and want to stop being a burden.
- What can you take from it?
- Even in despair, love and gratitude for the partner remain.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- What do you owe to those who love you?
- How do you handle being a burden?
Another view
It is a personal letter and may not generalize well.
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