What would you call this feeling?

I wrote about a cancer guy earlier seeking advice, but at the time, I was dealing with a lot of things, so I was having a crisis of confidence and was beginning to doubt things. Needless to say, this cancer guy and I aren't really together anymore at this point, but that doesn't stop me from feeling a certain way about him. From the very beginning, I was intrigued by the cancer, but for reasons I didn't understand until much later. The best way to put it is that I truly care about this cancer beyond that of some melodramatic and drawn out romantic love; ironically, I don't think I had gotten to that point of love, but I can say I truly adored him for everything that he was/is as a person; and had things turned out differently, I'm sure we would have been something very special. Instead of feeling cheated and disappointed that things didn't exactly go as planned between us, I feel very content and comforted by the thought of him. I just enjoyed being in his presence, and I imagined I would feel the same about him whether we were friends or actually a couple. I felt like I grew up a little being with him, and not so much that he did anything, but that I was able to transcend misconceptions I had towards myself while with him, and I trusted him enough to not fear him so much while I allowed myself to grow. I haven't seen him in a few weeks, but instead of feeling upset, I'm content. I miss him and think about him all the time, but it isn't a desperate feeling that I need him, but one of if we came together again (and I'm sure we will), it could go right back to were we left it off. It's very rare I feel this way about someone, but he's very special to me. If I still really believed this, I would say he was epitome of the guy that I always wished I could have (and I did get him for a little), and ironically, I would have never thought he'd be that person. He is just a beautiful person.

So, have any of you ever felt this way about someone? What do you think of this?

Also a little note, the cancer guy texted me today asking how I was and wished me a belated birthday. He also seemed a little hesitant and apologized for not being around. If I didn't feel this way, I imagine I would have probably been upset yet relieved to have heard this; however, I found this endearing, but also thought, "were you supposed to be around?" considering we both have a bit to focus on right now.

Absolutely! And it was also with a cancer guy. He's incredibly beautiful inside - no angel, not perfect - but beautiful anyway.

I'm pretty sure I'll always love who he is, he's an awesome mixed bag of complexity.

I understand how you feel, it's very familiar to me. Hold onto it, it;s lovely to be able to feel this way, very rare, very special and incredibly rewarding to feel content in such a way.

It is a very special feeling. I just can't really put a name to it, and I'd have to admit, I haven't really felt this way about a person before. Maybe once, but it wasn't anything like this. I only wish I could feel this way about more guys in my life. It's not perfectly akin to closure because I don't think of it as closure... just like... whatever we turn out to be, it'll still be worth it in the end.