Sugar tasted Salty

I have not yet seen it all but I have seen a share  of it. Since childhood, I have always wanted so much, but everytime I wanted it more something better came to my sight. That was never the case for John. John had it all, to my eyes. From the staff I had to those I never did. To me, he was living the life. One thing stood out from him. John never, I repeat never boasted of it. Being my best friend, I never felt awkward walking with him. He was raised in a family that had it all. The parents had a good life. The father was a CEO and the mother was a lawyer. So I know you have an image now. 

I came to know John back in primary. Our parents knew each other since back then. We did those children escapades together. I remember once we took a morning stride to town. Before I continue, back then you could never walk alone in town. You walk alone with no supervision of an adult, get your ass prepared for a spanking. If every town had a gate to enter, our parents would still warn us against going or playing in it. My mum sent me to the shop to buy her a few things. I took John along with me that day. The shop nearby wasn't opened that day so me and John decided to be "good kids" that day and go find another shop in town. A five minute trip turned to be a two hour journey. We were both whipped with with canes. We tried holding our tears in. To the neighbours we were like gladiators and they were the cheering spectators.

Your parents having a car, made you look like a king. John never got chased away from school due to fees unlike me. Having a car made you look awesome and know it all. John was my google then. If I asked and he answered I didn't question anything. If John said I was a girl I think I couldn't disagree. We both went to different high schools but on holidays we would catch on new things. John was not a friend, he was a brother to me. I still remember John's first love. Holidays were never fun without John. John might have gone to a better school than me but still his manners were not all well. I was once jealous when he was suspended for sneaking out of school and he was home all alone. After high school, we both went to campus. John performed way better than me and he pursued Acturial Science. For me, lets just leave it at that. John never cared about my background so for him friendship overcame everything.

John later got a girl he really loved. He introduced me to her, as if he wanted a blessing or a confirmation to assure him. They had it all good. John later got a job but unfortunately the job retrenched some few people and he was one of them. Finding a new job was all hard. His girl wanted to get married so much. Having no job and no savings was hard for him. Having parents who were successful, pressures were high from them. They wanted a wife and kids. John started acting low key. It was all hard on him. We no longer had our trips. I thought it was all on me. I once suprised John and visited him on an afternoon. We had a small talk but something was off him. He was no longer the guy I knew. That same day I saw him swallowing some pills. I started to joke about the pills and I finally got to see the happy guy I knew. He said he was having a headache.

Last evening I got a call from his mum. The only time the mum called me was when he wanted to know where John is or whether my mum is at home. With a low voice she said "Hello... Heeey son... How is you... How is mum and dad..." She has always called me son since I was a kid. I have slept over her house couple of times and considered me as her son. "Heeey mum... I'm all fine... They are doing all okay, I'm even with mum here, I came over for the weekend... bla bla bla..." Then the atomic bomb drops, but without the falling whistle, "John is dead". She didn't even escort me down the valley. Just pushed me down the escarpment. It turned out John took some pills but not his usual pills. I came to learn John was on medication. He lied it was a headache but it turns out he was having heart problems. "This sleeping joke is now old fashion John, wake up & lets just go home, like seriously it's getting late"

It wouldn't hurt to share...