The MAN: A Letter to My Son.

They were not always this obvious, the consequences.

I could not see them clearly, this vividly, My son.

the fog blurred my vision, the mantle way too tempting. ( Stoic)

Eager to be called, and recognized, as THE MAN.

A price I had to pay?

Life. ( regretful )

so look, this is THE MAN I became, the person of my youth:

I had to find a way of governing over my peers, My son.

I had to rule over them.

And if I were to do that I had to be everything they held in high esteem.

I had to be the one that got all the prettiest Girls. ( A sad chuckle)

I had to sleep with quite a number of these pretties.

I had to.

At double crossing, I had to have the mastery, the expertise.

I had to saturate my body with all kinds of alcohol, and still stand tall. ( Moans)

I had to put smoke into my chest, in all kinds of ways.

ways my compatriots revered.

Ten years later, and what I became? ( Tearing up )

let me tell you what I became, My son:

I was paralyzed, left for dead, a living corpse.

Lawsuits after lawsuits of failed child support from those pretties I had cornered.

STDs and STIs are the definitions of my man. ( weeping )

I do not have a home nor do I have a life.

I am crippled, My son, far gone.

Oh! I am now terminal ( Snuffles ) from the cancer I got from all the smoke intake.

all futile, so fickle ( Laments with regret).

And My friends you might ask, right? ( sighs with a laugh)

well, they are happy.

I was the man in their youth, they learnt off from me.

their example of what not to be. ( Chokes )

they drink and dine with their families, happily.

they have wives, a home and warmth.

they have everything I cannot have.

A safe place, My son.

As I stood there, tears rolling down my eyes onto my cheeks and down, they rolled in pain and regret. ( weeps )

The pain of my youth, the thorn of my flesh ( regretful)

But redemption! I cry, I shout! ( Wipes his tears )

came at my door.

let me tell you ( Smiles ).