I found out in the morning getting ready for school, I was in the bathroom when my dad called me over to tell me something. “I’m so sorry… hhe he’s ggone.” Tears streaming down his face as he gasps for air.

It was as if I hit a wall and the world just stopped. Nothing was right. I couldn’t cry, react, I just sat there. “I am going to go to school, it is only a half day. I’ll be fine.” I walked out before any other words were said. Finished getting ready and left for school.

   “Only a week ago. Isn’t true. Can’t be true… can it?”

Everyone was headed to the gym for a celebration. I could not see anyone I knew, I just stared out into the endless abyss of flowing people. My feet moved before I could feel it. My eyes gazed until I spotted one of my classmates.  I wandered over to her.

   “The trips, the cruise, what is going to happen?”

   “Hey, I totally forget that this was today.”

   “Yeah some tv station is coming, so we have to “celebrate”.”

   “Fun.”

   The sea of students continued until we poured out into the filled gym. No matter where I looked I could not see any one of my friends. Around and around the room; looking for someone, anyone. Not a friend appeared, so I followed my classmate up the bleachers.

   “Why didn’t she tell, why does she never tell me?”

   The assembly started shortly after.

   “Welcome everyone, thank you all for coming!… “

Staring out into the distance my mind wandered.

“Mom? Is everything ok”

“Yeah sweetie everything is fine. You go have fun at the dance, I still cannot believe that you already in high school. I want to see pictures of you, your dress, and the dance. I love you.”

“Thanks, mom, I love you too.”

“Here is a special guest… Mr. … basketball… ” My mind drew slowly back from the daze. I focused on the people in the center of the gym, like a good student.

The time flew by from one activity to another. Eventually, the crowd activities started to flow in and I felt stuck between reality and the past. My mind kept flashing from one event to another.

“What is going on with you, Mom? All of the drinking, laziness I’ve had enough. You can’t keep doing this.”

“I have a reason to be upset, ok.”

“What is it, why can’t you tell me?”

“Grandpa, he went to have his CT scan and he has cancer, Glioblastoma.” Tears began streaming down her face.

“What? Why didn’t you tell me sooner?”

“You had your first dance and I didn’t want to ruin your weekend.” She takes another sip of her drink.

“I had the right to know, you should have told me.” My eyes become bloodshot.

“I know I should have told you sooner.”

“Well, it’s not too late. Tell me more.”

   “Hey, Gramps.”

   “Hi sweet.”

   I reach forward to give him the biggest hug in his favorite chair.

   “I am so sorry.”

   “It’s ok.”

   “I love you so much.”

   “I love you too, sweet.”

 Beep, Beep, Beep. My eyes are already open staring at my phone, on the screen is one of the best photos I have ever taken. I was arranging it for a before and after collage.

I never got a chance to get the after photo.

My head is still stuck in the house, eating dinner, chatting like nothing was different. It was. Preparing for the future when the possibility of not having one is so evident. The surgery went well, I was told. He was going to be ok. People lie even when they don’t know that they are.

Glioblastoma, cancer. He has cancer.