Support us -> Read the Guardian in print Ow More people across the world are reading the Guardian. Pause to consider anew perspective with our weekly news magazine, Home delivery worldwide. Save 20% on an annual subscription. Subscribe > Notnow Already a subscriber? Sign in to not see this again Volte-face Has France lost its fear of Marine Le Pent AH ATIC a eect Teh‘correspondent. But when someone tells you something that devastating, I don’t think it’s unusual to feel awkward, helpless, and to say something you later wish you hadn't. Not only had I said I'd write (who writes letters these days, for goodness sake?), Pd said they’d cheer him up. So they'd have to be funny, and what is funny about cancer? Brian later told me he went home that night thinking I was a bit weird. I couldn’t disagree. Brian and I had met six months earlier on a yoga holiday in India. Pd gone to take refuge from a job in the City of London that was stifling me. I was living in London in mv late 20s. on the hunt for a new career and life. Brian was hanpilv nartnered with Read the Guardian in print © x More people across the world are reading the Guardian. Pause to consider anew perspective with our weekly news magazine, Home delivery worldwide. Save 20% on an annual subscription. Subscribe —> Already a subscriber? Sign in to not see this again Volte-face Has France lost its fear of Marine Le P AH ATIC 4 PO au ecru Posie atheandsmalljoysthatI just for Brian’s reaction, but the whole process, Letter could share, I writing gave me the validation that what I was doing - allowed myselftobe — making Brian smile - was worth something. But it also more vulnerable made me see the world in a different way. Every week I hunted out stories, anecdotes and small joys that I could share in a letter. I was forced to observe and listen more intently, understand more compassionately. And, as someone who had always been very private, by sharing so much more of myself through my writing, I learned to trust and allow myself to be more vulnerable. It wasn’t just Brian’s world that was changing - so was mine. Read the Guardian in print © x More people across the world are reading the Guardian. Pause to consider anew perspective with our weekly news magazine, Home delivery worldwide. Save 20% on an annual subscription. Subscribe —> Already a subscriber? Sign in to not see this again ll Hee a - oo Wave: A“As you're joining us today from India, we hope you will consider marking this day by . Despite the financial challenges plaguing the media industry, we've decided to keep our journalism paywall-free, because we deeply believe everyone has the right to access high-quality, fact-checked reporting. And we maintain our independence thanks to generosity from readers all over the world, who understand that supporting the free press is an investment in an informed and empowered public. Unlike many others, we have no billionaire owner - this helps us maintain the freedom to fearlessly chase the truth and report it with integrity. Your support will allawnis ta cantinne ta wark with trademark determination and naccinn ta bring vant Read the Guardian in print © x More people across the world are reading the Guardian. Pause to consider anew perspective with our weekly news magazine, Home delivery worldwide. Save 20% on an annual subscription. Subscribe —> Already a subscriber? Sign in to not see this again Volte-face Has France lost its fear of Marine Le P AH ATIC 4 Oa TMLee Posie atheRead the Guardian in print © x More people across the world are reading the Guardian. Pause to consider anew perspective with our weekly news magazine, Home delivery worldwide. Save 20% on an annual subscription. Subscribe —> Already a subscriber? Sign in to not see this again Volte-face Has France lost its fear of Marine Le Pent AH ATIC