When I was really sick several years ago, my best friend told me, "I want my Mary back." I was a little confused -- I thought I'd been making a good show of pretending to be fine.

At the same time, somewhere inside me, I got mad at her, I thought it was really selfish of her. I actually felt guilty! It wasn't my fault I was like that. There was nothing I could do about it, and I was doing the best I could. At least, I thought I was. But I didn't actually have enough energy to do the best I could at that time. In an ironic twist of events, she saved my life -- very, very literally.

What he's really trying to tell you is how much you mean to him. He wants you to do better not just for him, but for you. People don't always know how to say that, even though it seems so simple.