Dearest of Friends

"Go ahead, let's have a seat," Darren spoke. After you, my old friend," Jon replied. "All right. Thank you, brother," Darren said as he took his seat. "I'll be right back to take your orders, OK!" said the waitress. Darren & Jon replied in harmony, "Sure." The two let out a laugh and settled into their seats. Darren started saying, "Do you remember the last time we were in this place?" "My God, it has to be at least ten years now," Jon said. "Yeah, that's right!" Darren gleefully agreed. Jon's face immediately had fallen into a somber look. "Uhm, you alright, my friend?" Darren asked. Jon stared down at the table as tears filled his eyes. "Hey, buddy! What's goin' on?!" Darren, worried about his oldest and best friend, reached across the table and held Jon's hand, breaking him out of his daze. "C'mon, my friend. What is it?" Darren questioned Jon. Jon slowly shook his head, still faced down and becoming more emotional, "I am so sorry that I wasn't there for you, my dear friend!" Jon sobbed. " What? No! No, no, no, buddy! You didn't leave me." Darren assured Jon. "Yes! Yes, I did! I wasn't there for you during your most difficult times, and you have always been here for me! What kind of person am I? Oh Lord, have mercy on me," Jon wailed. Jon's tears filled his eyes, making him have to remove his glasses because he couldn't see through them any longer. "I'm just going to wash my face and clean my glasses. I can't see anything through them anymore," Jon cracked a smile at his friend as he rose and left the table. "Just take it easy, my friend. Everything is going to be alright," Darren reassured Jon. "Oh, my friend," Darren spoke to himself. 

Jon returned from the bathroom to find the waitress at their table taking Darren's order. "Oh, here he is! Hey, I ordered that appetizer that you used to love! We can split it. Is that OK?" Darren asked. "Yea, of course, of course! Thanks!" Jon spoke. "And what'll ya' have today?" asked the waitress. "Uhm..." Jon was notorious for saying, "I'll have," while the waitress stands there as he looks up and down, left and right, flip the pages... Until finally, the waitress breaks and say's, "Why don't I put in the appetizer and drinks in while you take a look. Sound good?" his waitress would ask. This time was no different. "Why don't I put in the appetizer and drinks in while you take a look. Sound good?" the waitress asked. Jon nodded, "Yea, that-that sounds good. Thanks so much," Jon replied. "OK! Great," said the waitress. "Thanks," Darren spoke as the waitress began walking around him, Darren smiling at the waitress. Then, he directed his attention back to Jon. "Some things never change! Huh, buddy?" Darren chuckled. Jon let out a small chuckle, "Yeah..., no. No, they don't," Jon agreed. "I hope you're feeling better," Darren asked. "A little bit," Jon replied, "but it's been so bizarre lately. I just can't seem to get my head out of this awful space I'm in!" Jon aggravatingly exclaimed. "Have you spoken to your therapist and psychiatrist?" Darren asked. "Yea, it was all going so well! And just when I thought things where getting so much better; the next day, I mean the-very-next-day, it all went to hell man! I don't know what happened?" Jon was becoming undone again. "It's like the devil heard me! I felt so good brother! So! Good!" Jon banged the table in unison with his final two words. "Oh God, have mercy on me!" Jon looked up when he spoke the words. 

"Oh, my friend... I am so sorry that you are going through this!" Darren was getting upset now at the poor site of his once always-smiley-friend. Jon was pulling tissues to dry his eyes and blow his nose, "I know, brother. And I'm so sorry that I've brought you down too now," Jon sighed. "I told myself that I was just going to go out and have a good time with my oldest and dearest friend and not speak about all this shit! Now look at me! It hit me like a huge weight the other day," John spoke. " What did?" Darren asked. "How much of a piece of crap I've been all my life! So selfish I've been so selfish," Jon shook his head, looking down again. "No! No, my friend! Don't say that," Darren urged Jon.

"You have not! It breaks my heart to see you like this, Jon! And I feel powerless to help! I wish... somehow... I could rip the pain out of your life and bring my old friend back!" Darren said lovingly. Jon believed it too, because Darren was that kind of friend. He had proved it time and time again. "You're not the only one. I've treated my whole family that way. I've used them to get what I wanted. A selfish person I am! How could I not have seen it before?" Jon asked himself. Darren sighed, "You've gotta' stop being so hard on yourself, brother!" Darren urged.

"Everyone has done something to someone that they are not proud of. You're not the only person. You can't single yourself out like that! I get it though! You've had this inward reflection that has made you aware of your past actions. It's like the Holy Spirit convicting you of sin in your life." "Yes! That's exactly how I felt about it too! I cried my eyes out on the floor, prostrating before God, begging His forgiveness!" Jon agreed. "OK, great! So you confessed! He's forgiven you my friend! As have I, and as I am sure, so has your family! So you can't stay in this place my friend; it's not healthy! Please, brother. Look at me. Take my hand!" Jon reached his hand out, and Darren grasped it firmly and said, "It's all behind now. You can move on. It's alright, it'll be OK. Trust me! You'll see!"

Jon looked up at his friend, got up from his chair, came around to Darren's side, hugged his best friend, and let out a sigh of relief. " I love you so much my dear friend!" Jon said sincerely. "I love you so much too my dear friend!" said Darren. Jon released his friend, saying, "Thank you for everything all these years." Darren replied, "There's no need to thank me! That's what friends do, right?" "Right," Jon shook his head. 

"Soooo, what'll it be for you two handsome fella's tonight?" the waitress shattered the silence. "Oh Jeez! I forgot!" Jon said. "Oh no. Here we go again!" Darren let out. "Just pick something my friend, and we'll split it. OK? How does that sound?" Darren asked. "Yea, that's perfect!" said Jon. "OK, I'll have......." 

The End