[Aliantha]

Today a friend of mine from HS came to visit and pick up some cupcakes. We have been in touch a fair bit ever since our 20th reunion five years ago, but for one reason and another, never actually caught up in person. I guess one of the main reasons is that he has cancer, so has been pretty busy with treatment. His prognosis is not good. I know we've all moaned about cancer before, but it just really sucks for my friend. He's the same age as me and he has secondary lung cancer. The first was in his brain, and they had to do a fair amount of structural damage to his face to get rid of it. They have improved things for him somewhat, but he still thinks he looks like a freak and has been very reclusive for the last year or so, in particular since he got his latest news. He stayed most of the day just chatting while I was doing cupcakes and stuff. It was like nothing had changed, but everything was different. He's still the 16 year old boy who stole my first kiss (although I gave it willingly), but he's now a man facing his own mortality and dealing with preparing his wife for what is most likely an untimely end for him some time in the next few years.

Anyway, I just feel so abjectly useless. I know it's not about me, but he is the last person who deserves this. He's the sort of person who just helps people. I kid you not, he tried to help out a mate who had a broken leg by mowing his grass for him half way through his last round of radiation. That's the kind of person he is. Selfless to a fault. Anyway, I wish I had a magic wand. All I have is fucking cake.