Forgiven But Not Forgotten

Chapter 3: Visitor

John awoke to knocking on his front door.

"Just a second!" he called out to the visitor. He threw on a pair of sweats and a baggy shirt. It seemed that was all he wore these days. He shuffled down the hall, yawning and stretching as he reached for the doorknob. He opened the door to reveal his friend, Hercules Mulligan. "Herc? What are you doing here?"

"I'm here to drag your ass out of bed and slap some sense into you," he said to him, as he brushed past John to the kitchen.

"Look, I don't know what you are talking about," John followed his friend.

"Bullshit," Herc replied from inside the fridge. "Alex told me all about it."

"What?" John stood in the center of the kitchen doorway, frozen.

"Yeah," Mulligan stood up, holding a variety of meats, cheeses, and condiments. "He told me how he broke the news of the wedding to you and how you got all pissed and then you got all sad and shit and how he is afraid he lost you as a friend."

John stayed paralyzed in the doorway.

"He called me asking me if I could come over and make sure you got the invitation and ask you if you would be his best man. Also he said he would be beside himself if you weren't at the wedding."

That got John's attention. "Beside himself?" He was already turning red. "Beside himself?! Who does he think he is saying something like that, claiming to know what being 'beside himself' means?!" He fumed, gripping the table that was in the middle of the kitchen.

"Woah, dude, chill," Hercules set down his spoils, only to begin making a monster of a sandwich. "Don't shoot the messenger."

John took a step back. "You're right, you're right. I'm sorry. It's- it's just so frustrating you know? He waltzes into my home, announces he is to be married to a girl he barely knows to me, the man he dated for four years and has known for over 18 whose heart he ripped into a million tiny pieces when he called it off, and then has the balls to invite me to his wedding and then ask me to be his best man in said wedding!" He was out of breath, but not out of steam. "Tell me, Mulligan, tell me how that makes any sense!"

Hercules looked up from his four layer sandwich. "Look man, I can't speak for Alex, I mean, besides what he told me to tell you. If you want answers you need to talk to him."

John shook his head vigorously. "No. No way. I am not talking to him." He crossed his arms in front of his chest. Not in defiance, but in defense.

"Suit yourself," Hercules said before taking a massive bite out of his sandwich. "Ah juh' hayin' you migh heewh wewwer afer hawin' foo him."

John looked disgusted and confused. "Dude. Chew, swallow, then talk." He waited as his friend emptied his mouth before repeating.

"I'm just saying you might feel better after talking to him," he said with an empty mouth.

"Look, I really don't want to," John said turning away. "Just tell him I'll do it, okay?"

"Are you sure?" Herc looked unconvinced.

"Yeah, just don't make it a big deal okay? And tell him the same," he made sure his face was hidden from his friend's view as he let a tear slip down his cheek. "I just want to get this over with and forget any of this even happened."

Hercules went up to his friend. "I wouldn't say that..."

John looked at him. "That's what I thought for a long time, but then things changed and now I want to erase it all from my mind."

Herc stood there not knowing what to say.

"Thanks for stopping by Herc. When you are done eating, could you make sure you clean up the kitchen?"

"Uh, yeah."

"Thanks."

With that, John returned to the bed that had become the only constant in his life.