We Danced

We Danced is a devastating memoir about love, illness, and the unthinkable pain of loss, told with searing honesty by Canadian writer Wade Myall.

Wade wasn't looking for love when he first saw Rita behind the counter of a downtown Winnipeg coffee shop. He was a single father, quietly surviving the aftermath of a failed marriage and the painful distance from his daughter. His life had narrowed into duty and quiet despair. But Rita, bright, kind, and honest, changed everything. What began as a slow and gentle friendship blossomed into a profound love story that would reshape Wade's life.

Together, Wade and Rita built a blended family filled with warmth, laughter, and the quiet rituals that make up a life. Weekend breakfasts, family road trips, whispered late-night conversations. Their connection was electric and deeply intimate, grounded in compassion, sensuality, and an unshakeable loyalty. Rita, who lived with schizophrenia, met life with courage, humour, and an open heart. Wade embraced her with unwavering acceptance. Their love was a refuge for both of them.

As the years passed, they created a life of deep meaning and quiet joy. They traveled through Europe, got married at Niagara Falls, and learned how to live, even in life's ordinary moments. But in the summer of 2015, a shadow fell. Rita was suddenly plagued with crippling headaches and strange symptoms no doctor could explain. What began as quiet concern soon gave way to fear, and then to devastation when it was discovered she had terminal cancer.

Told in a voice that is both personal and relatable, We Danced is a story of what it means to love someone so completely that your very sense of self is bound to theirs. It is about building a life together, brick by brick, and what happens when that life is threatened by forces beyond your control. As Rita's illness worsens, Wade faces the impossible task of holding her, and himself, together. His grief is not tidy or inspirational. It is raw. It is real. And it is unforgettable.

More than just a memoir of loss, We Danced is a love story in the purest sense. It's a testament to the extraordinary bond between two people, and the ache of having to say goodbye. For anyone who has loved, and lost the person who made the world feel like home, this book will break your heart and give you something to hold on to.