The room was unusually silent as he stood up from the chair and walked around his table, his thoughts gathering like soldiers in formation.  Yet as calm as he looked on the outside, he was trying his hardest to pacify his racing heart and dial it down.  He slowly paced himself in front of the table, trying to buy some time as he looked around the room.  His footsteps were the only sound that’s being heard, despite the carpeted floor.  He knew that this was it, and there are no more excuses.  He tried to hide it as best he could during the last couple of weeks, but it was getting more and more noticeable.  Until he finally decided on doing the inevitable.

“Ladies and gentlemen,” he calmly said, sitting in front of the table as he began to address the group of thirty-something people inside the room.  “I stand here before you not as your colleague.  I’m here as a person who can proudly say that I did everything I could and gave everything I have for the benefit of everyone here.  But sadly–and as fate would have it–there are things that aren’t just meant to be.”  A trail of whispers suddenly started going around the room as he paused for a couple of seconds to let the next train of thought go to his lips.  “As you may have noticed, things somehow went in a different direction over the last couple of weeks which led to questions about me and my actions.  I tried–with my hardest efforts–to stay the course, but I was too overwhelmed with what came over me and I humbly submit myself to whatever scrutiny you may have.”

The whispers grew into muffled voices as a few in the room tried to make sense of what’s going on; some trying to quiet the others as they attempt to grasp what he was saying.  He looked down and waited for the voices to die down before he continued.  “I know things have been rough lately, and putting undue pressure or even lack of attention on all of you was not my intention; and for those, I sincerely apologize.”  The voices started again, albeit quite louder this time.  He then stood up, eliciting a sudden silence from the room as he folded his arms.  “That being said, I’m now addressing the rumors that has been going around in order to set things straight.  First off, I have submitted my irrevocable resignation but I will continue to be here until the end of the month.”  His statement drew an audible mixed reaction from the people in the room as he tried to press on with what he was saying.  He took a deep breath and raised his arms in efforts to get the room back in his control.

“The reason for my resignation,” he continued, trying to compose himself, “is not because of my admitted shortcomings, but more of something else.”  He paused again as people were now talking to each other; some belittling him, while others expressing either joy, anger or sadness.  He took a few seconds to listen to the incessant noise which was now filling the room.  Random voices and mumbled thoughts were all over him as he sat back down in front of the table and slowly scanned the room from left to right, trying to look everyone in the eye before finally telling everyone in a loud, booming voice, “I only have five more months left to live.”

The noise in the room came to a screeching halt.

To be continued…