The time finally came and I was as such a nervous wreck about seeing everybody again for the first time since I've been home. My hands shook with every passing second and my thoughts of what was about to happen next was making my head spin. I paced the floors of the guest room furiously trying to get my thoughts together when there was a soft tapping at the door.

"Just a second!" I yelled as I paced to keep myself busy.

The tapping continued again as I paced a hole in the carpet.

"Hang on a second!" I yelled again.

The door opened and Prince popped his head through the crack.

"Hey! What's the matter?" He asked as he watched me run back and forth.

"Nothing. I'm just freaked out about all of this."

"Why? Everything is gonna be fine. Stop worrying."

"You say that but what if it's not? I'm worried that this could go very bad. Maybe we should call this whole thing off!"

Prince came in the room and closed the door behind him. The sound stopped me from pacing almost instantly. I looked up and saw my lightly tanned lover standing in front of me with sad looking eyes. He took my hands and gave me a small smile.

"Everything will be alright. I don't want you to stress yourself. I will be with you the whole time you have nothing to worry about. I know this is hard for you but they have to know sooner or later."

I knew he was right. There wasn't going to be any secret about it unless I dropped dead today. I had to suck it up and face my fear. At the same time I wanted to hide like a coward and just let this cancer take me once and for all but I knew with Prince around he would make sure that would never happen. Prince was still holding my hands when I realized that I had spaced out while he was trying to give me comfort.

"Did you hear me mouse?" He asked shaking me gently back to earth.

"Yeah! Yeah I did. Thank you." I said trying to be convincing.

He knew I wasn't paying attention and I could see it on his face. Prince was still nice enough to let me zone out whenever I was overthinking things.

  "You worry too much. Everything is gonna be fine I swear." He said.

  "Well let's hope so." I replied sadly as I prepared my emotions to re-rocked to their core again.

He led me to the door and with a reassuring smile he pulled it opened and we walked out into the hallway. My heart raced a million miles a second as we got closer to the top step. I swore I felt the hairs on my neck stand completely straight to the point that they could stabbed me if I touched them.

  "Is it hot in here or is it just me?" I asked timidity.

  "Relax it's fine. Nothing crazy is going to happen. Just breathe love. Remember I'm gonna be with you every step of the way." Prince said in a calmly.

I felt a little better but it still wasn't enough. When we got down to the bottom of the steps I could hear everybody talking amongst themselves. Now I knew my heart was about to explode. As bad as I wanted to call it quits and run back upstairs I didn't. I let Prince pull me into the small room where everyone was waiting to see me. I held on to Prince tightly the closer we got to the room.

  "I right here. I promise." Prince whispered to me.

  "Ok. I'm ready." I said as I let out a deep breath.

Prince opened the door and I stepped inside with a big smile. Everyone got quiet and then came over to hug me.

  "Look who's back from the city of angels! The angel herself!" Jerome said as he hugged me.

  "Well it's always good to see you Tricky!" I exclaimed.

  "An angel of beauty! How are you sweet thing?" Andre said as he was next in line to embrace me.

  "I'm doing alright Cymone. How are you?"

  "Much better now that you're home. I've missed that sweet smile of yours to brighten my day."

Just then I felt my heart stop beating. I was about to shatter his whole world with devastating news about what's been going on with me and why it's taken me so long to come home. Andre held my hand and led me over to a table and sat down.

  "You haven't met my good friend Jill have you?" He said as he hugged her.

  "No! I haven't! Is she you're girlfriend?" I asked him.

  "Oh god honey please don't send him my way." Jill joked as she put her hand out to me.

  "I'm Regan. Nice to meet you!"

  "Prince had told me all about you! I'm surprised he didn't bring his new eye candy with him." She said in a jealous tone.

  "You mean his dancer? P knows better than that." Andre replied.

  "You guys it's fine. I love him but I guess we just grew apart that's all." I said.

I felt a hand on my shoulder and turned to find Dez standing behind me with a smile and a slice of cake.

  "I thought you might want something sweet since your back for good!" He said.

  "Hi Dezzy!" I said excited and gave him a hug almost knocking the cake out of his hand.

  "Good to see you again Mighty Mouse!" He giggled.

I let him go as he still kept that smile. I was never so happy and scared at the same time. The moment I announce what's been going on the room won't be as joyful. I didn't want to do this anymore. Everyone is just so happy. Who am I to take that away from them. Why does it have to be me? Just as I was beginning to bow out gracefully and just let this party be a good time Morris called us all to the front of the room as Prince stood next to a black chair. Rene had just showed up and I gave her a waved as she waved back to me happily.

  "Regan come in up. It's time." Prince said.

I have been dreading this moment since that horrific day of receiving the news myself. I made my way to the front of the room and sat down. Everyone else crowed around me and Prince sat to the left of me and held my hand.

  "So what's this about are y'all about to jump the damn broom or what?" Dez asked.

Prince and I looked at each other.

  "Not exactly. Regan and I wanted to have you guys here because there's something we both want you to know." Prince said sadly.

  "What that y'all breaking up?" Andre asked confused.

  "No Dre not that. It's.....well....." I said trying to figure out what I was going to say.

  "It's what?" He asked.

I grabbed Prince's hand tighter and prepared myself to say the words that were told to me back in LA.

  "Andre come up here." I said to him.

He did ask I asked and I let go of Prince's hand and grabbed onto Andre's tightly trying to fight back my tears as best as I could. He looked nervous but he still kept a smile on his face.

  "What is it mouse?" He asked.

  "I didn't want to be the one to do this but.....Andre I've been sick."

He looked at me as if he thought I was kidding.

  "What do you mean sick? Like with the flu or something?"

  "It's......it's not that kind of sick Cymone." Prince said.

  "Then which sick is it exactly?" He asked.

The anger in his voice began to show because he was beginning to get scared.

  "You Skip man what exactly is going on?" Dez asked.

Here it was. The moment where I had to break the news to the whole room. I held on to Andre's hand and turned to my anxious group of friends.

  "The reason why it took me so long to come home was because I've been receiving treatments for......"

  "What kind of treatments? What's is going on?" Morris asked.

I sighed and just came out and said it.

  "I was diagnosed with stage 4 intestinal cancer a few weeks before graduation."

I felt the tears fall from my eyes as the stunned room looked at me. I felt Andre take his and away from mine and he got up from his chair.

  "You're lying aren't you? This is some kind of sick fucking joke!" He snapped.

  "Andre. I am so sorry." I said through my tears and I stood to embrace him.

He had only backed away from me.

  "You're just saying that shit to get back at me for hitting on you aren't you?"

  "Andre no! Of course not!" I cried.

His tears streamed down his face as he continued to back away from me.

  "Stay away from me Regan!" He shouted.

Prince went up to him to try his best to calm him down but it didn't work. Andre shoved him back towards me nearly causing him to fall into me.

  "Andre! Please! Just come talk to me!" I pleaded.

He didn't say anything else to me. He turned his back to me and shook his head.

  "How long?" He asked.

  "Two months." Prince said sadly.

Andre turned and the look he gave me made my blood run cold. He bolted for the door and left without saying a word. My heart was never so broken seeing him in such a state.

  "Prince go and find him and tell him I'm sorry." I said still crying.

Rene came up to me and hugged me tightly. I cried in her arms as Prince went to find a now broken hearted and shattered Andre.