Albin lost his wife Elin to cancer

Albin and Elin had just moved in together and got a cat when the news came. Elin’s colon cancer was back and she only had six months to live. That same evening, Albin proposed and she said yes. One of her biggest dreams was to get married and about a month later they said yes to each other at the altar.

– It’s the memory you want to think about the most and I try to keep it in mind all the time. I’m so incredibly happy that we were able to pull it off that way. That Elin could get what she had always dreamed of, in a way, says Albin.

Moved back into the shared apartment

It has now been just over a year since Elin passed away. For Albin, it feels like almost a lifetime has passed.

– When you think back, a large part of it feels like a nightmare, which you woke up from, in a way, but that it was still reality, he says.

After Elin passed away, Albin moved back into the couple’s shared apartment. Her paintings and furnishings were allowed to remain.

– Many may wonder why I chose to move back to the same apartment and keep things and such. But it was also a security, a security for me to know that it was home.

He shares the apartment with the cat Snus, which he and Elin got together.

– Little Snuff. She is my everything. I’ve thought people have been sneaky before, when they called their pets their children. But she’s really… She’s like a physical living thing that’s left of Elin.

Learned about grief during the intensive year

When Albin thinks about Elin and what he takes with him from her, he mentions her courage and how she faced life.

– That is probably what has helped me through this year. Her joy and what she could give me was a support going forward, even if she is not here to touch. She is my support anyway.

During the past year, Albin has learned a lot about grief.

– I probably learned quite quickly that grief is not something that is linear, or that it is something that goes on for a while, that you deal with and then it’s over. It goes up and down all the time. Still.

Have met love again: “Great support”

Today, Albin is doing well. He has come further than he thought he would, with the support of friends, his family and Elin’s family. Sometimes he feels guilty for feeling well.

– It becomes like, why do I feel good? But I think I came pretty far this year and I hope to go even further. Further, says Albin.

Albin has met love again. He describes the girlfriend as a great support, but is careful to point out that she is not a replacement.

– It has nothing to do with my memories of Elin. Because it will always be genuine. It will always be there.