Elizabeth Gilbert says she's "in love" with female best friend months after split from husband

“Eat, Pray, Love” author Elizabeth Gilbert says she’s in love with her female best friend. 

The author made an announcement on Facebook on Wednesday just months after separating from her husband, Jose Nunes. 

Gilbert wrote on Facebook that her best friend of 15 years, Rayya Elias, was diagnosed with pancreatic and liver cancer in the spring. She said the diagnosis made her realize that she was in love with her friend. 

“I do not merely love Rayya; I am in love with Rayya,” she wrote. “Here is the thing about truth: Once you see it, you cannot un-see it. So that truth, once it came to my heart’s attention, could not be ignored.”

Gilbert said she professed her love for Elias, who returned her affection. The two are now in a relationship. 

The author admitted that her love for Elias is the reason why she and her husband separated.

“For those of you who are doing the math here, and who are wondering if this situation is why my marriage came to an end this spring, the simple answer is yes,” she said. 

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Gilbert explained that she needed her privacy for several months, which was why she did not reveal the news before, but felt the need to announce the relationship because she is in the public eye and wants to have Elias by her side, especially given that she is ill. 

Gilbert asked just one thing of her fans: to send her and Elias love.