The Best Of Friends: Together Forever

Danielle Lindsay, 22, from Alloa, promised to love her man in sickness and in health…

- Amy Walters And Laea Marshall

Drifting off to sleep, my phone buzzed. Who could that be? I thought.

It’s Stuart from the party last week – not sure if you remember me? the Facebook message read.

I began flicking through his photos and my face lit up as I realised who he was.

Stuart and I had met briefly before at a mutual friend’s party, but we hadn’t said any more than hello to each other.

I remember you! I replied.

It was August 2012, I was only 16, Stuart was 18, and I was flattered by the attention.

After that, Stuart and I were chatting every day.

And a few months later, in January 2013, we decided to meet up for ice cream.

I was so nervous about our first date, but the minute I met Stuart, my nerves melted away.

‘You look gorgeous,’ he said as he approached me.

It felt as if we’d known each other for years.

‘So, what do you do for work?’ I asked Stuart.

‘I don’t have a job at the moment as I’ve just finished chemotherapy,’ he said.

‘I was diagnosed with a brain tumour last year.’

‘I’m so sorry to hear that,’ I said. ‘Have you been given the all-clear now?’

‘Yes,’ he smiled. ‘I’m excited to begin living a normal life !’

My heart went out to him.

‘You can always lean on me,’ I smiled.

After a month, we made things official, and in June that year, we moved into our own flat together.

Although things moved quickly between us, we had a connection that just felt right.

We loved living together. We’d go for days out in Glasgow, but also enjoyed snuggling up on the sofa watching films.We were totally in love.

A year went by in a happy blur, but then, in June 2014, our world came crashing down.