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Produced by the Island at WBUR Boston.

From the New York Times and WBUR Boston, this is Modern Love.

The New York Times and WBUR Boston.

Stories of Love, Laws, and Redemption.

I'm your host, Megna Chacrabardi.

We often turn to friends and family first, when we need someone to lean on,

or at least we'd like to turn to them first.

But sometimes it's people from the periphery of our lives,

who step up in challenging moments.

That's what happened to Randy Davenport.

Andrea Martin stars in the NBC sitcom Great News.

She reads Randy's essay about a connection that Randy says saved her life.

He lifted his glasses and let them rest on his forehead before taking hold of my right leg.

He said, I pulled, push me away.

I pushed.

I thought this is the game lovers play.

Pull me closer, push me away.

Each action holding the promise of a specific outcome.

If I push you away, you will come after me.

If I pulled you closer, you will let me.

But he wasn't my lover.

...