To change a life

Catching up

Ben flew out to California.
He found the studio where Tucker's show was broadcasted and went looking for his room.
Finally he saw the door marked "Tucker Dobbs-Host"
He knocked.
Tucker's jaw dropped when he saw Ben.
"Ben what are you doing here?"
"I'm out on Parole. I needed to see you."
"I have to go on in 20 minutes but I have some time to spare."
They sat down on the ugly orange couch.
"I missed you Tucker."
"I missed you too Ben."
"How has everyone been?"
"Honestly Ben, shaken up. Do you know what it felt like to have the Sherriff tell you that your best friend has been arrested for doing drugs? Do you know the feeling of sitting in a hospital waiting room waiting for the news on if your best friend's girlfriend was going to lose the baby because he freaking hit her?"
"Look man I'm sorr.."
"I'm not finished Ben. Danny was beside Riley everyday. He held her hair while she puked every morning, he drove 5 miles at 3am to get her some jalepeno poppers because her cravings were insane, he was there next to her every minute of the 10 hour labor she suffered through. He signed the papers, he took custody of your kids so they could feel semi normal and have a dad who loved them. Emma was nearly 2, she remembered all of it. She still has to sleep in Danny and Riley's bed at night because the nightmares are so surreal she has accidents. Ben, when you changed, you ripped out the hearts of everyone who loved you. Riley was on the brink of suicide because she'd convinced herself that you leaving was her fault. Danny sank into a depression because he lost his favorite brother. I got fired because I couldn't get my head in the game because I'd lost my best friend. You don't realize what kind of affect your choices have on everyone around you. We loved you Ben, you had everything. And you threw it all away because your ex coaxed you into trying drugs and you got hooked."
Ben could see how sad Tucker was, there were tears in his eyes. Ben hadn't realized that he'd hurt everyone deeply when he walked out that day.
Tucker shook his head and wiped his eyes "if you'll excuse me, I have a TV show to host and I'm on in 5."
And Tucker left Ben sitting there, alone with his thoughts.