Red Earth & Pouring Rain

My classmate and buddy Stephen K is a good guy. Despite nearly 20 years' difference in our ages, we've become good friends over the past year.

Stephen's older brother, Nathan, has been battling a handful of different and rare cancers for several years, and it looks like it's coming to an end. Stephen let us know over the weekend that he wasn't expecting to be in class at all this week, but would be able to work on group assignments from Lexington, where his brother is being treated. We checked in yesterday, and the reply wasn't good. A few last-ditch treatments, Stephen said, mostly to give Nathan's wife some kind of peace, and ceasing the transfusions. "After that it could be hours to days."

Nathan's not yet 30. This ain't right.