Throwing away the perfectly good

Things between you and your significant other are starting to sour. It affects you and is on your mind more than it is on the other person’s. That person may be totally oblivious to the fact that you’re both over troubled water. Anyway, you decide to bite the bullet, and go ahead and break up with them, in two days. However, the morning you decide to bring up the fact that you’d like to break up, you find out

that his or her mother either (a) was diagnosed with some incurable disease, or (b) died unexpectedly. Would you proceed with the break-up procedure, or would you drag it out a little to soften the blow?

What’s the statute of limitations on such a thing? Is it insincere to drag it out even if your head and heart are miles away? I’m not saying you’d bring it up during the viewing: “My god. She looks so peaceful laid out like that. By the way, I was thinking we should split. Things aren’t going like they should. See you at the wake.” Not that, but how soon after that would you initiate the conversation? I’m not sure what I would do. I think we should all be, at least, minimally prepared for situations like this.

All I can say is that if I were in a relationship and a close relative of mine had been diagnosed with cancer or had already died, I would say, “Hey, if you were planning to break up with me shortly before this happened, don’t let this incident hold you back. I know it can be a real strain. I’ve thought about how uncomfortable it would feel to be in a situation similar to this, like, a million times before. I’m just trying to make things easier. Cool?” On second thought, maybe that’s not such a hot idea.

What side would you prefer to be on?