We have....-drumroll, please- A GUEST WRITER!

Everyone give it up for Melissa! -cheers!-
You get your own color, for being our first submission :)

“Malignant Dishonesty” by Melissa!

“I haven’t been completely honest with you.” Andy finally told his son. Andy had been struggling with a terminal illness that he had tried to hide but could conceal no longer. He had developed a rare form of cancer for which there was no treatment. “This might be hard for you to hear, son, but I know you have to know now.” Andy had thought so much about how he would tell Tom about his condition, and now that the moment had finally come no words seemed to be able to reach his lips. “I’ve been dealing with a lot lately and been in a lot of pain.” Although the physical pain was excruciating, Andy never imagined the emotional pain would be even worse. “I’ve talked with countless doctors, and they all say the same thing.” Andy shifts his eyes from his son’s to the floor because he already knows what they will reveal.

“Dad...... what’s going on?” Tom inquired with anxiety plainly showing on his face.

“I know I should have told you this earlier, but I just didn’t want you to worry about it. I haven’t been given much time, and I just want you to know that I’m not going to hide anything from you anymore because I’ve realized it doesn’t help to put it off when it will only hurt the other person in the end.” 

“I don’t even know what to say, Dad. I..... I.... uhh I just have so many questions. How long have you known about this? Is there any hope? Does mom know? What are you doing to stop it? Do you have any hope?” 

Andy calmly replied, “The doctors all tell me that this will end my life, but I won’t let it defeat my spirit. I’ve known about it for 3 months, and of course your mother knows. This should be a time where we just love each other, till the end.” 

Hearing his dad say this made Tom remember that he hadn’t been entirely honest either. Tom had been engaged to a woman that his father would not except, for their families were sworn enemies; now he felt compelled to tell his dad everything, yet he knew he couldn’t. “I think I just need some time, to think about all of this and figure some things out.” What Tom really needed was a quick call to his fiancé, so he exited his father’s room and went out onto the back porch. The sun was just setting, and it felt a little chilly only adding to the shiver already descending down Tom’s back. He knew that he had to be honest with his father, but he also knew that he couldn’t make this decision alone. The phone rings.... and goes to voicemail. “She has to answer,” Tom thought. He dials her number one more time with depreciating hope.

“Hello...” 

“Hey, sweetie. I’ve gotten some really big news tonight, and it’s not good news. Dad told me that he has cancer, and the prognosis isn’t promising. He had to be really honest with me to tell me that, and I can’t stand keeping this from him any longer!” 

“Oh my goodness! Is he going to be okay?”

“I’ll talk to you about it later, but right now I just need to know.... if I can tell him about us?” 

“How do you think he’s going to react?” she responded uneasily. 

“I really think he’ll accept you, especially now. He told that he just wants to love me through all his pain, and for him to say that.... wow. He never told me that growing up.” 

“I trust you, so if you feel like you should tell him then I’m okay with it.” 

“I love you, so much. I’ll call you later to tell you everything.” 

“I love you too, Tommy. Bye.” 

“Bye.” Tom hangs up the phone as the butterflies start to flutter in his stomach. He knows that his dad has experienced so much, but he also knows that he must be honest with him once and for all since he does not know how much time his dad has left. Tom musters up some courage, just enough to keep him going, and begins to walk back to his dad’s room. He slowly opens the door as last minute thoughts of negotiation battle in his mind. His eyes meet his fathers just as he says, “I haven’t been completely honest with you.”