Man Has to Choose between His Beloved Fiancee and His Mom Who Has Only 5 Years to Live: ‘The Hardest Thing'

A man's world came crashing down when he received the devastating news that his mother had just five years to live. Amidst the turmoil of this grim revelation, his fiancée shared something that added an unexpected layer of complexity to his already overwhelming situation.

On September 22, 2023, an anonymous male poster turned to the "True Off My Chest" subreddit to share his poignant story. He began his narrative by sharing that his mother had turned 60 while knowing that her life expectancy didn't extend beyond another five years.

Twelve years ago, she suffered a stroke that left her with partial paralysis on one side of her body. Despite her physical limitations, she continued to live independently and self-sufficiently, showcasing remarkable resilience.

An Agonizing Choice

The original poster couldn't help but feel immense pride in his mother's strength, but he was painfully aware of the grim odds she faced in terms of her longevity.

The decision shattered them apart, and OP found himself torn between emotional numbness and profound pain.

In a separate turn of events, the man's fiancée had received an unexpected promotion in her dream job—a monumental opportunity that surpassed mere description. This career advancement was truly a once-in-a-lifetime chance that promised to transform her life in every conceivable way, including financial prosperity.

However, it also entailed relocating to a foreign country thousands of kilometers away. It was a decision she had to make, and the individual fully supported her choice, even though it came at a heavy emotional cost.

Upon learning of the career opportunity, the man knew that their relationship was on the brink of ending. His fiancée had asked him to accompany her, but without hesitation, he declined. The decision shattered them apart, and OP found himself torn between emotional numbness and profound pain. "It broke me apart, and it broke her apart, and I feel nothing and simultaneously just pain," he admitted.

The man's mother had only five years left at best, and he knew that her inevitable passing was drawing nearer with each passing day. He realized that once she was gone, she would never be a part of his life again. For the remainder of his existence, until he, too, succumbed to oblivion, he would never have the chance to meet her or hear the sound of her living voice; she would be forever lost.

The constant ticking of the clock served as a reminder of the limited time they had left, and despite the immense difficulty, he found it impossible to distance himself from her, only seeing her once a year.

How could he reconcile with the fact that he would only have five more opportunities to be with her before her existence ceased? He couldn't, and it was an unquestionably painful truth. "This is the hardest thing I've ever had to do, but it wasn't a hard choice at all," expressed OP.

What Do Redditors Say?

The man's heartbreaking story garnered an overwhelming response from the Reddit community. Many commenters shared their thoughts and advice. One person, speaking as a mother, urged him to consider salvaging his relationship with his fiancée while also suggesting ways to provide regular help for his mom.

Another commenter, who had lost their own mother, believed that OP had made the right choice. A third commenter, speaking from a parental perspective, expressed strong disapproval of the choice to give up a relationship for a parent and feared feeling guilty in a similar situation.

Someone advised OP to stick to his decision once he's alone and not to contact his ex-partner after his mom's passing. Another commenter questioned the depth of his love for his fiancée and suggested that true love would have led to compromise.

Finally, a user acknowledged the difficulty of the choice but believed that choosing his mom was the right decision, as choosing otherwise might lead to lifelong regret and overshadow OP's relationship with his fiancée.

What do you think of this story? How would you react if you were in OP's place? Was he right to choose his mother, or should he have made a compromise? Click here to read another story about a woman who forced her husband to choose between her and his mom, who went without food to feed him.