They’d heard neuroendocrine tumors were rare, but responded to treatment. This was for the long-term but, just over a decade into their relationship, there were more challenges to weather: having endured bowel problems for some time, Kit was diagnosed with a fist-sized, cancerous invader in his rectum, yet there was hope. They moved in together, conquered relationship crises, moved out together and sought counseling. Kit helped Ausiello overcome his bullied past Ausiello learned not to wake Kit too early. As time passed, they told one another “olive juice,” (which looks like “I love you” when whispered), and adopted a cat, endearing nicknames and couples-language. Ausiello thought Kit had amazing style Kit could barely get past Ausiello’s Smurf collection. They were different in so many ways: aesthetics, family, childhoods and personalities. At six-foot-something tall, bespectacled Kit was geeky-sexy - just Ausiello’s type and, although they kissed and kissed some more that night, their first date was near-disastrous. When Michael Ausiello spotted Christopher “Kit” Cowan at a New York event for gay athletes, it was lust at first sight.

Still in love, like the movies, til death do you part - but then, as in the new memoir “Spoiler Alert: The Hero Dies” by Michael Ausiello, someone changes the script. You’d be the couple everyone smiled at: two wrinkled beings, holding hands, fussing good-naturedly at one another.

Just like in the movies, you’d planned to grow old together.

Spoiler alert memoir book