The hidden truth.

The Hidden truth

June 26,2026

“It’s so hot out....” A man says. Other workers nod in agreement.

- [ ] “No point in dragging out the yard work complaining. Let’s just get it done.” Another replies. “Always the hard worker aye Jon.” The man says . Jon looks up and laughs “If I’m not, who will feed my family? My mother counts on me to get her meds she is very sick. She’s counting on me.” Jon continues working. You deserve to take a break too Jon. You don’t want to work yourself to death. Take if from an old man like me.” He finishes. ”Thanks Rick.” He said smiling. Couple hours pass and the work day is over. Jon checks his watch “5:40pm. Hope mama is still awake and feeling ok. I have time to stop at the market and pick up a few things for dinner I’ll make her favorite since it the anniversary of her and my father. Whom I’ve never met haha” he laughed. He starts his car and waits a bit before pulling off. He hits shuffle on his rap playlist and the music begins to play. “Aye, this my shit!!” A rap begins to spin and Jon begins to rap the song word for word. Pulling up to the grocery store and parking Jon jumps out locks his car and proceeded inside. “Hey Jon it’s been a while.....! Haven’t seen you at the gym either.” Jon stops and the smile he had is gone. “Monica....” he grumbled. He turns around to face her. “What’s up.” He said nonchalantly “What’s you’re problem? You don’t return any of my calls, none of my text! Not even an email! Did I hurt you that much you don’t ever want to see me again?” She finished “That’s kinda the point of a break up.” He retorts. “Jon I love you!!!” “Did you tell that to Devan while you cheated on me with my so called best friend!!” Jon argues. “ I don’t know what I was thinking Jon. I’m sorry. I’ll do anything just name it! Please” she begged. “Just leave me alone, ok. Go have your life with Devan and leave me out of it!” “ Devan’s dead Jon!” She stopped him. “What? Since when?” “Last week. You would know if you didn’t work so much, and returned people’s call!” She said tearing up. “Shit...” He paused. “His mom wanted me to tell you. But this is the first time we have seen each other since....” she stopped. “Since I caught you two in our bed in my house!” He finished her thought. She silently looks up at him. “You were always working. And taking care of your mom. I get it she’s very ill and has a super rare disease (GBS), but what about me Jon?... I was always alone while you were out playing hero. I need attention too! I needed some of your precious time!” Why couldn’t you..” “What!!!” He interrupted. And let my mother die, so you can have some alone time with me!? I’m sorry I put my mother before you..... As a matter of fact I’m not sorry! You only get one mother and it’s selfish of you to try and pull some this as an excuse. Ohhh I was alone and you weren’t there. So I slept with your bestfriend! He mocked. “My mother is all the family I have since my father ran out on her, and left us with nothing! I wasn’t born we money like you and your family, I worked for everything I have and did it all on my own!!” He scolded. “Just leave me alone ok. It’s bad enough I can never see my boy again..... Please let his mother know I will attend his funeral... Thanks for telling me Mo.” “She wipes her tears and sniffles a bit. “No problem.” She said “I really am sorry Jon.” “Don’t worry about it.” He said turning around to proceed into the store.” Jon’s mind begins to race as he thinks about all that transpired with him and Devan. They had been friends since they were for and it all ended 4 years. Jon is now 30 physically fit, and great martial artist. He studied Boxing and Karate. Trained most of his life because he had a dream of going pro. He stopped training after his mother fell ill, and since he no longer spoke to Devan he had no one to push him to go back. Jon is very skilled and could have easily gone pro with Devan not too far behind. Shortly after the falling out Devan became an officer and was doing great. Shortly made Lt. and Detective after 2 years. Cracking a huge case that connected officers, cia agents, politicians and even a big name medical company tied a drug cartel know as “Silence”

- [ ] Why would anyone want to kill him? Jon thought. “He was a good guy. Why?” Jon couldn’t wrap his head around it. He finished shopping got to the car, loaded it up and headed home. Jon lived in a nice home in which he shares with his lovely Hispanic mother Rose. She is very ill frail and tired of fighting for her life.

- [ ] She has Guillain-Barré syndrome GBS . A deadly disease that effects her immune system, body and nervous system. She has grown extremely weak and tired. Her left side has partially shut down and her condition has gotten worst. Jon works so he can afford her treatment. It’s no cure but it helps her. He see she has grown tired of fighting and is doing his best to keep her comfortable. “I’m home!” She waits for him to help her out of bed. “ Hey sweetie.” She whispered. “How are you mom?” He asked. “Old and tired..” she mustered. “ But still beautiful.” Jon winks, she smiles. “Hungry?” “A bit baby but I’m ok. How was work?” “Work is work ma. How did your treatment and muscle therapy go?” “I didn’t go.” She whispered. But you have too mom. Please. Jon begged. I’m tried son my body isn’t going to go back to normal and there is no cure. It’s ok son, I know I’m going to..” Don’t you dare say it. “Your father..” “I don’t want to hear about him mom he left you with nothing. “You don’t know him like I do. “ Yeah because he ran out on you.” She glares motherly at him. Jon flinches internally. Ok mom ok... I’m sorry. “ I’ll still spank your little ass!” She whispered aggressively. Jon laughs “I know mom. Changing the subject “I’m making your favorite tonight! Cheese burgers!” He said. Oh me and your father loved them.” Jon smiles, “I know mom, so the question is... bacon or no bacon? He asked. “Bacon.” She whispered back. While Jon is preparing dinner his mother makes her way into the kitchen slowly and sits at the island. Jon is cooking. He is singing to old school love songs that his mother loves to listen too with him after his father vanished. Al green playing in the background and his mother begins to sway in the chair. Jon comes around to help his mother out of the chair so he can dance with her. She smiles. And hugs Jon as tight as she can Jon wraps his strong arms around his mother. She smiles again. “Just as strong as your father son.” Jon laughs the music stops and the next track begins. He helps his mother back into the stool and goes back to making dinner. Jon flips the burgers and goes to the counter to finish prepping the veggies and condiments for dinner. “ What happened to him mom? My dad why didn’t he stay?” He mother paused and looked away. “He was a very bright man who did his best to help me.” She started to cry . Calm down mom it’s ok.” He comforts her. He comes around the island to hug his mother. “Listen to me Jon.” He looks into her eyes. “So handsome.” She pinched his cheek. “Your father is a brilliant scientist who only wanted to help people like me who have this disease.” She begins to cough. “It’s ok mom don’t say anymore. “No.. cough.. listen to me... cough cough! She faints. “ Oh shit! Mom!” Jon picks her up and carries her to the couch. “Hang on mom!” He said laying her down gently. He dashes toward the kitchen and turn the stove off. “He grabs her coat and shoes. “Hold on mom! You’re going to be ok!” He said fighting back the tears. He gets her dressed and carries her out the door and to the car. Monica pulls up and rushed over to help. “Oh my God! Jon!” “Hey, help me!” He rushed to her car. “She just passed out on me!” Monica opens the door for him “Hurry! Jon placed her inside “Get in!” She said getting into the driver side and peeling off to the hospital. “What are you doing here? Nvm I’m glad you’re here! He said as they raced to the hospital. “Your mom invited me. She knows I love the burgers you make and I was hoping to talk to you.” “About?” He questioned. “Devan left something in my possession to give to you in case something happens to him.” She said. “What? What do mean he left something for me?” It’s a box Jon i don’t know what’s in it. He said anything happened to him to give it to you immediately. It’s in the trunk. She said as they were arriving to the hospital. Jon looks at her and thanks her before getting out. “HELP! Somebody HELP! Nurse run over to him to help his mother. “What happened?!” A doctor quizzed, Jon told him what happened as they loaded his mother up to whisk her away. Jon ran behind her and Monica followed while on the move her vitals begins to drop. “SHE’S CRASHING!! SIR PLEASE STEP BACK!” A nurse ordered. “NOOO MOM!!!” Jon let out. As the tears began to swell in the back of his eyes. “GET HER TO SURGERY STAT!!” A big set of double doors open and they rush her through. “Com on mom! Jon begged. “This is as far as you can go sir!” A doctor told him. “Please save her...” Jon pleaded. “We are going to do everything we can.” The doctor assured him as he rushed off. Jon walks back with Monica coming towards him. “Hey..” Jon said. “Hey she replied. “She’s going to be ok Jon.” She said reassuring him. “Thanks Mo.” he replied. After sometime had passed the doctor emerged with his head down. “Sir, I’m sorry. We lost her about 5 minutes ago...” Wait what! No please don’t tell me this is real! Mom! Jon dashed past the doctor “MOM!!” Sprinting down the hall until he stumbled upon the room his mother was laid in. “Oh mom..” he dropped to his knees crying. Monica catches up to see Jon lying broken on the floor. “No please, not her... She’s all he had.” She let out as she got closer. Jon broken and lost laid crying on the floor. He feels a warm familiar touch. A familiar body warmth that draped across his on the floor. The whisper “I’m sorry Jon.” the cold tears that mixed with his as they both cried on the floor of the room his mother was in. The next day was Devan’s funeral. Jon finally stopped crying and mustered up the strength and courage to go. The time was 11:16am. His service was at 1:00pm. Making breakfast and coffee was Monica wrapped in Jon’s T-shirt and socks. “Hey.” She said smiling and handing him a cup of coffee. “Hey...” Jon said back accepting the cup. He sips the hot liquid and tried to clear his head for his friend. “Do you want to talk Jon?” “No!” He said shutting her out. “Ok.” She backed off. “Are you going to Deva... “Yes.” He cut her off. Jon shakes his head. To try to calm down “Sorry, just a bit out of it. Thank you for being.” He said softly. “It’s ok. You just lost your mother... Take all the time you need to heal.” She comforted as she moved to give Jon a hug that he accepted. “Thanks again Mo. He whispered to her. She just smiled. “Come on time to get ready to go.” He said “Ok.” She agreed. “You still have clothes here or you can go home and come back.” The options Jon gave. “I have clothes here?” “Uhh yeah. You stormed out after you said “We should work this out.” And I told you no.” The same night me and Devan...” Jon stops “You mean you beat up Devan. I mean I know you two were close but how could you do such a thing to your friend?!” “You mean how could my friend do you? Or how could my fiancée just throw it all away? Hmmm these are the real questions. You two were acting like I wronged you, when I’m fact it was you who wronged me. You know what...” He took a deep breath. And calmly said “ this isn’t worth wasting time over. What’s done is done and my brother is dead and this is how I have to say my goodbyes.” Letting a few tears fall but gritting his teeth he pulls it together “I’ve lost the most important part of me and my brother all too close. I’m sorry Mo. but maybe it’s best I be alone right now. Thank you for being here it was nice of you. You can finish your breakfast I’m not hungry, gonna shower and get ready to head out. I’ll see you at the funeral.” He said walking away. “I thought you wanted to go together. She said “ Nah. You can go home what would people say if the widow arrives with me. Jon finished heading up the stairs. “Fuck you Jon!!” She cursed at him. He shrugs and completes climbing the stairs. Monica, furious storms up stairs and gathers her things “Stupid motherF******!!!!“ she yelled. Jon laughs and turns on his shower, flips the switch on his Bluetooth radio and hits play. He turns the volume up to drown out Monica and his feelings. Monica gather her things and stormed out the door. Leaving it unlocked. A man who had been watching both Monica and Jon since the death of Devan. He was a seasoned black gentleman in a nice suit and nice. He parked a few cars away in order not to be spotted. Monica was seen getting into her car and leaving the man takes notes. Half hour later Jon emerged cleaned up well for his friends funeral. The man notes it, the time is 12:46pm in the afternoon. The seasoned black gentleman starts his car and follows Jon to the funeral home. He parks at the burger joint and watches Jon drive in. He also see’s Monica. Inside the the church portion of the building Jon arrived on time and greets Devans mother and brothers Markus and Lamont. They embrace and share tears it’s been quite some time since he had seen them. Jon sits with them and the funeral begins shortly after. Devan mother ask Jon to help carry the casket and he agrees. After the service and repass Jon head to his car to self reflect but Monica is waiting for him. “HERE ASSHOLE!!!” She said smashing the box Devan left for him into his chest. “Ouch.. he laughs. Monica storms off. “Wait, you didn’t open it?” He yells “Devan asked me not too, it’s your problem now.” Monica walks back and finds her car to leave. “ Hmm. Kinda heavy I wonder if it’s all his video game. Jon laughs and smiles to himself. “ He did have a few worth a couple thousand and I could use it to pay for my moms funeral. Jon drops the box into the passenger seat walks around to the driver side waves to devans brothers and he heads home. Arriving home Jon parks grabs the box and heads inside. He checks his mail on the way in to find nothing. He opens the door walks in and moves into the kitchen. He placed the box down and got a pair of scissors to open the box. After opening the box Jon finds 42,000 dollars, a gun, Devan journal, and a Black book. Inside the black book seemed to be formulas of some sort. “Oh Devan. What is it you found? This must have been why you had a closed casket.” Jon thought. A loud know hits Jon’s door. What the! Who the hell could that be?” The time was 6:56pm Jon grabs the gun, checks that it’s still loaded and places it under the back of shirt. He then stashed the box with the the black book, in a pile next to the garbage, then He walks to the door slowly. The banging persist. Jon gets closer to the door....

To be continued