One day, I met Derek by chance in the village. He was an acquaintance whom I had met over village activities—the plant sales in aid of the church, and a mutual interest in carpentry that led to a village exhibition. Just odd occasions, and this was no exception. Except that this time I was shaken by his response to my routine query: “How are you?”

“Not too bad, but I've just started a course of radiotherapy.”

Further …