A Right Thing

What Lauren and Chris had no-one can take away

- Alex Noone/Harriet Rose-Gale

Lauren Hughes, 23,

Portland, Dorset

If something’s right, it’s right. And what me and Chris had was exactly that.

Yes, there were 33 years between our ages, and Chris’ children were older than me. 

But we truly loved each other. 

Chris and I met in 2013 through our mutual friend Hannah.

I offered to cook him a roast one Sunday. And, after that, we fell into a routine.

When I wasn’t at my care home job, I’d cook for Chris. He made me laugh, always saw the positive.

‘When life gives you lemons, make lemonade,’ he’d say.

He was a big kid, too. He loved The Twilight Saga films about American teenager Bella and her vampire boyfriend. 

‘You’re 56, not 15!’ I’d tease. 

We quickly fell in love – and, two months later, we moved in together.

Chris introduced me to his daughter and son from a previous relationship, Tanya , 29, and Jamie, 27.

‘You make Dad happy,’ Tanya told me. ‘That’s what’s most important.’

But, much as I loved him, Chris’ smoking drove me crazy.

I enjoyed a social cigarette myself occasionally, but Chris smoked around 60 a day, had done for 40 years. Plus he’d been diagnosed with chronic bronchitis and emphysema.