In the short fiction You Will Excuse Me, it was apparent to me that an illness had returned.  It was saddening to hear how he was regretful to hear about his becoming ill again.  He flashed to happier times when he was with his partner and connections that they had made.  It shows the struggle that people have trying to continue as life as they know it during their fight against their diagnosis.  It was a story most of us could relate to because at one point or another we have had to support someone who was ill or persevere through an illness ourselves.