I ask all readers to consider what it means to Cherish someone. Like love, an action word.
Google’s English dictionary is provided by Oxford Languages.
Like love an action word. cher·ish
/ˈCHerəSH/
verb
protect and care for (someone) lovingly.
"he cared for me beyond measure and cherished me in his heart"
Look at your significant other. You should look into each other's eyes and think: I love you, but do I cherish you?
Sure, I miss regular quality sex. I miss the freedom of a partner who travels through life with you, each making the other more secure and comfortable. The most significant thing I miss? The way we shared all the mundane and simple things that are ubiquitous in most of our lives.
Together: Meals. Shopping. Walks. Rides. Time on the beach. Sunny days. Rainy days. Cozy, snowy winter nights. Waking. Sharing memories. A hug. A kiss. Holding hands. This may seem boring to some, but not to me. "You don't know what you have 'till it's gone."
Is it possible to have someone fill this void? I don't know. It probably is asking a lot of another.
I am now married for forty years to my third wife. When we first were married, I had the ghost of my second wife still haunting me since she abruptly left me with our son, who had a heart defect. It did affect the beginning of our new marriage. I am her only caregiver.
My life experience prepares me for whatever will come, but I am not convinced another woman would want to deal with my living ghost.