Ron woke up to his phone ringing. He jumped, looking around and suddenly remembering he was home in the bed. He picked up the phone and put it right back down when he realized it was just the ring tone for his voicemail. He looked at the clock and couldn’t believe he had been asleep half the day. He wanted to get some rest but hadn’t planned on sleeping this late.
David checked his phone to see if he had any messages, still nothing yet. He sighed heavy and returned to focusing on his work determined to have some things wrapped up by the end of the day. He thought about calling some of their mutual friends but he didn’t want to cause a panic if it was just a lack of communication.
Ron sat up in the bed and decided to just chill for a while and watch television. He wasn’t really hungry and didn’t have an appetite. He flipped through the channels to find something to watch, to distract himself. He didn’t want to keep thinking about things but he didn’t want to act like it didn’t exist either. He still hadn’t told his family and he knew his wife would be devastated to find out especially if she found out he kept it from her.
Ron decided to take his Dr’s advice and weigh his options. He got on his laptop and started researching the information the Dr provided. He decided he needed to tell his wife and wanted to have all the information available when he talked to her, including his decision. He knew his decision what affect her but he had to live with whatever he decided.
The only other thing Ron hadn’t decided is when or how to tell David. He knew at some point he had to face David and tell him what was going on. Ron knew he had to decide soon, he and David talked every day, they had verbal coffee a couple of times a week and it’s already been over 24 hours since they spoke last.
David finished his last conference call at 4:30 pm and decided he was done for the day. He closed everything out, grabbed hi keys, etc and headed for his car. He called his wife to let her know he was going to Ron’s 1st when he got home. She didn’t answer so he sent her a text message so there wouldn’t be any misunderstandings.
Ron looked at the time and realized his wife would be home soon. He rushed to get dressed and try to calm his nerve so he could get himself together to tell her about his Dr appointment. He felt fatigued as he hadn’t eaten all day and headed to the kitchen to get something to eat. When he got close to the kitchen the doorbell rang, he frowned, shrugged and went to get the door. Not thinking, he unlocked the door and when he opened it he stood there speechless staring at David.
“Ron” What’s up man, where you been”. “D D David, uh, come on in man, what’s going on”. David could tell by the stutter he caught Ron off guard. “Ron everything ok man”, David stepped inside and Ron closed the door behind him. Ron a little concerned that David was here, he wasn’t prepared to tell him yet and he didn’t want to tell him before he told his wife but he felt kind of relieved.
“Hey David man, come on in the kitchen man, I was about to grab something to eat”. Ron felt renewed after his researched and he realized that this was not the end of the world. “Have a seat man, look I know I have been kind of MIA man, it was a lot going on for a minute but I’m good Bro” “Ron are you sure”.
“David I am” “Well how did the Dr appointment go man”? “Actually David since you mention it, the Dr told me I have prostate cancer”. “What what what”! “Wait what”! David stammered. “What the hell”! Ron man you don’t play like that! David was furious. Ron turned and looked at home while still fixing a sandwich, “I’m not man”. David slumped in a chair and shook his head, “naw man, naw man”, he just kept repeating.
David was fighting back tears, he knew how Ron would react if he cried, Men Don’t cry for other men.
A BRAND NEW KIND OF ME