I was in the middle of a messy divorce and had no intentions of getting into a relationship. One day, I ran into a neighbor who was with her best friend, Amy. Amy had a joie de vivre that was uncompromising. She had survived a battle with cancer, and then would have a second bout.

On Halloween, she had lost all her hair, but she dressed up as a Raggedy Ann doll in high heels and a silver tinseled wig. I gave her a big hug and told her: You are the first person I will call as soon as my divorce is final.

During pandemic lockdowns, Amy was killed in a car accident. My divorce was finalized four months later — I would have celebrated, but instead I was sad because I could not call to tell Amy “I am ready.”

– Oscar Romero

60, Chicago