My long term boyfriend died of cancer last year. We’d been together for 16 years , since I was 21 and he was 23. I had given birth to our only child three weeks before his diagnosis. My son was just shy of 10 months old when his dad died, and he’s now turned two.

I loved my late partner deeply and had planned to stay with him for ever. We were embarking on an 18-year project together, raising our son. Now I think, how can I ever be happy again ?

Before he died, my partner told me to find a single dad to go out with . When I returned to work, a colleague I had considered a flirt was away – getting chemo. Now he’s in remission. He’s also a single parent. Lately, I’ve realised I have a crush on him. His life has been touched by tragedy and he knows what’s important to him. He’s very kind, like my late partner, and I think we click.

What gives me a lot of pause is that I find him to blow hot and cold. Also, because I’m a solo mum I don’t really have time for someone else.…