Me and Tyreese went way back, met back in third grade and we been best friend ever since. His mom and my mom were also good friends, both were nurses working at the same hospital. Both of them would work the same shift and to save some cash as they would share a babysitter for the both of us; so, we grew up spending a lot of time together. Tyreese was one of a kind, he always had my back as I had his. I don’t think I could have had asked for a better best friend in my life.

Like this one time where I had run away from home when I was 13 because some stupid pointless drama at home with my dad, barely could remember it now must have had been some teen angst or something. Instead of just welcoming me into his home, he decided to run away with me that day. We were gone for hours and the cops were finally called in, we were just walking aimlessly around town just trying to find something to do. Trying to forget about our youthful problems we had then, makes me laugh how simple life was at those point in life. A cop pulled us over and questions “Are you two David McKeon and Tyreese Moore?”

Not wanting to drag Tyreese into any more trouble since it was the dead of night I answer “Yes, we are officer.”

“Ok then get on in, I have to be delivering you boys to your family, they are worried sick about you two,” he said as he escorted us to the back seat, he gave us a fine lecturing about the danger of going out without warning our parents. “Who knows how worst it could have had really been,” he warned us with a stern voice. We were both acting tough but inside we were both scared shitless, imagining what the worst could have had been.

When we got home me and Tyreese got an earful from our mothers. They both were worried sick and was about to whoop our asses. Dad and I made up later we both knew we said things we didn’t meant and we could have had lost the chance to apologize for it. But after that day I knew for sure that Tyreese was my best friend for life.

Tyreese was already at the bar before me and was drinking beer. He told the bartender to get another beer for me as I sat down next to him. “What’s up, calling me out of the blues especially on a Tuesday?” he asks in a joking tone sipping on his beer.

I smile to him slyly, knowing the bombshell that I am going to present to him. I mean he is my best friend, whom I knew for many years now, this is going to affect him as well and I know it is going to suck for him, but I really need some help at this moment and I can only trust in him to be strong enough. “Yea... no, nothing but I just wanted to ask…” I smile and close my eyes to stop me from tearing up knowing that I will be leaving this person behind and continue “how long we been friends for?”

Tyreese raise an eyebrow and replies “Damn I bet we been friends for more than 20 years now.” He chuckles and ask, “What kind of question is this, what is this really about?”

I took a deep sigh and ask, “Can I ask you for the biggest favor I will probably ask in my life?” Tyreese puts down his beer and looks me in the eyes and said, “Yea bro, what’s up?” I straight chug my beer, puts it down and look at him trying to keep my feelings from spilling everywhere and answers, “I’m dying pal.” Tyreese looks at me confuse and replies “Stop playing around, what is this really about?”

“Well, there is low, very low chance of me surviving, but I had stave 4 cancer.” Tyreese just kept staring like he seen a ghost, before he started to wept some tears. I couldn’t keep it in anymore, how could I? So, I bawl right there with him. I was scared right then and he was my best friend, he is one of the people who I won’t be seeing ever again.

Tyreese just pats me on the back and we went to go sit in his car. “Why is this happening right now,” he said his voice almost breaking. “Today was just a normal day and now I find out my best friend in the world is being taken away from me,” he said tears now streaming down his eyes too. Tyreese was the type of person who didn’t cry much and seeing him cry just made me sadder. We are still just those two boys aimlessly walking around town who are still looking forward to our future. But this really pull us back into reality.

I know, that it would hurt him, but at this time I really needed him. I know he can win over this since he has his family with Ashley, his wife. He met her in college and they had been inseparable since, after she started to date Tyreese was the moment when she started to get to know Vanessa and they became best friends.

“I’m sorry to drop this bombshell out of nowhere pal,” I said after we stop tearing up.

“No, I am sorry for not being able to do anything about this. I just hope that Vanessa is taking this better than I am right now.” He said taking in a deep sigh and sniffling a little.

I chuckle a bit and said weakly “That’s the problem, I haven’t told her yet,” as I start to hold back even more tears.

“What why not?” He said almost jumping out of his car seat.

“Because I just can’t. She is the love of my life and I just don’t know if she can handle this alone. I want to make her stronger and more self-dependent. I mean we haven’t been apart from each other for so long now that I am truly scare that she wouldn’t be able to live on without me….” Taking a deep breath, “So, I thought of a plan, and that is why I need your favor that I can never repay back.”

“What’s your plan?” He asks with a concern face.

Sighing I place my hand on his shoulder said, “I plan to make her divorce me.”

For the next week I acted normal around my family, and in this coming week, I hatch my plan. It needs to be quick because only god knows how much time I have left. I need to be precise because Vanessa could read me like a book and any wrong move will make it fail. Of course, this is going to hurt a lot of people but at the same time it will make them stronger for what to come later when I’m gone.