I first met Ramona when I was in college. She was kind of chunky then, with big glasses and bad skin. She was an art major and she dressed kind of funky. I guess you could say that she had her own kind of style. Unfortunately her independent flair was not really what the majority of guys found sexy or even attractive, including me.

Even though she was an art major and I was into manufacturing technology, we had some of the same program requirements, and ended up taking a computer graphics design class together. She needed the class for her degree program and I needed the class as a prerequisite for AutoCAD. We were assigned to do a group project together, and though we had taken several classes together had never actually spent any time with each other, or even spoke before then.

We were almost total opposites from the beginning. I ran track and hung out on the periphery of the popular crowd. She smoked weed and hung out on the periphery of the avant-garde, beatnik, artistic sect. I dated mostly 2nd tier cheerleaders and athletes, she was the "fat friend," and wing girl to most of the really pretty, or just really slutty, art chicks.

While working on our project, we were forced to spend a lot of time together. Human nature being as it was, caused me to take a hard look at her. I guess it forced her to look at me as well. Anyway one night, we'd been having a long conversation that gradually left the project and became more personal. My date for the evening arrived to spring me, and I was kind of sad to leave Ramona. I could also see that she wasn't happy about it either. The next afternoon when we met at the computer lab, Ramona was really cold to me.

"OK, what did I do now?" I asked her.

"You're a fucking asshole," she said, almost in tears.

I grabbed her arm and escorted her out of the lab, to avoid creating a scene. In the park across the street we sat down on a bench and I told her not to move. I ran and grabbed a soda for me and her favorite juice from the cart that sold them nearby.

Now that we were comfortable, the argument could proceed without distraction or embarrassment on either side.

"So why am I an asshole?" I asked smiling.

"Because you are!" she said, wiping the tears from her face.

"Even though you're a Jock/techno weenie with no artistic soul, I thought you were different," she said. "We were having a nice time, and I was really starting to think ... And then you ... with that whore."

"Are you mad at me because I went on a date?" I asked incredulously.

"Fuck no!" she spat. "It's just that all of you guys are alike. You don't want a relationship with a woman who really feels something for you and loves you. You just wanna get your dick wet, with some big breasted bimbo with no brains."

"Well" I said calmly. "The big breasted bimbos are smart enough to do one thing that gives them the advantage, whether it involves dating, relationships, or getting guy's dicks wet."

She looked at me dubiously and asked, "What's that?"

"They ask," I snapped. "They communicate. They do something to let the guy know that they're interested."

She couldn't think of a thing to say, she just sat there balling up her fists and steaming. I could almost see smoke coming out of her ears and I wanted to defuse the situation and see where we really stood, so I reached over, took those giant glasses off her nose, (they were really bad, and in the way) and I kissed her. Not just a little peck, but a pretty good passionate smooch. I later found out that it was her first time kissing a guy that wasn't a relative. That first kiss was followed up with an even better one, when she relaxed and opened her lips a little bit and our tongues started to massage each others uvulas. I wrapped my arms around her and pulled her to me and we didn't leave that park bench for a long time.

The next few weeks were a whirlwind of activity. We finished the project (got an A+), and started dating. Ramona, got contacts, saw a dermatologist, and started dressing a little more normally. I never asked her to give up her bohemian outfits, but as we started to go out more she needed more things to wear. You know women; she'd ask me to go shopping with her and ask my opinion about things. I would mention how everyone wore jeans, including artists. She would then say she was too fat for pants. I'd then tell her that I loved her curves and how, some men loved to see a well rounded ass on their women. I reminded her about the artist Rubens and his voluptuous models. She bought jeans and looked great in them. I'd tell her that her peasant tops and sweat shirts didn't really go well with the jeans or skirts she was wearing. And she'd say that I just wanted to see her tits. And I'd tell her that she was right, but they were mine anyway and she was just carrying them for me.

Sex with Ramona was like screwing a fairy princess. While it wasn't wild and uninhibited, it was special just the same. It was unhurried and it was as if every stroke only served to bring us closer together. Since I was her first, I tried to make it fun and special for her as well. After a while she got more into it and actually started to demand it from me. We never got too kinky and she definitely wasn't into giving me blow jobs but I took what I could get because I loved her so much.

A few weeks later she looked in the mirror and told me, that she looked just like a bigger version of the big breasted bimbos that she hated so much. I told her, maybe she was, but she was my BBB.

We were very happy and after we graduated, we got engaged. I went to work for an automotive design firm and Ramona did layouts for an art magazine.

My family loved Ramona and welcomed her with open arms. Ramona's mom and sister were the only family she had. They were under-whelmed by me to say the least. I once heard her sister telling someone at our engagement party that Brad (me) was alright if you like that sort of guy. But I was just too normal and was probably squelching her artistic vision. Ramona looked beautiful and happy, but I over heard her mom telling her sister that she thought we were getting married because Ramona was pregnant, and it wouldn't last.

Over time we proved them both wrong. We stayed happy and in love. At a party for our 7th anniversary her mom started to ask when she was going to become a grandmother. Ramona and I were her only chance for grandchildren because her sister had come out of the closet a year previous.

"We're trying mother," said Ramona quickly.

We had been trying for a few years, but it hadn't happened.

"Well, don't worry about it, I made appointments for you both," said Maddie, Ramona's mom.

She had taken the liberty of making appointments for us with a fertility clinic. Naturally mine was a week earlier, because I suspect she thought that the problem had to be with me.

Anyway, I went to my appointment, got blood drawn, jacked off to some really dirty porn to give them a sperm sample and was found to be A-OK.

When Maddie got the news, she suggested that we should just practice more, until we got the job done, so she could be a grandma while she was still sexy.

Ramona's appointment was different though, and changed our lives forever. We did find out that she had several problems with her reproductive organs, that would make it while not "impossible," for us to have children, "extremely," implausible. That night I held her and cuddled with her while she cried herself to sleep. I told her that we could always adopt, or get any of a number of treatments that were available now. Inwardly, I hated the shit out of her mother, for driving this situation to where it was.

"If you want a divorce, you can have it," she told me through her tears.

"I'd never leave you for anything unless you made me, Mona," I told her.

"My mom said, you'll cheat on me so you can have kids," she said.

"Mona, I'd never cheat on you, you're my life," I said.

She looked me in the eye, and asked "Why would you want to stay with a fat girl that can't have kids?"

I looked her back in the eyes, making sure she could watch my every expression and told her, "Because I love you, more than anything, and it would kill me to be without you."

I think she calmed down a little then, and went to sleep, but to be honest those days are such a blur now that I can't remember all of the details. Two days later the clinic called and asked to see us. We sat down with a doctor and were concerned when she said that she had referred Ramona's tests to a specialist. We were even more shocked to find out that Ramona was in the early stages of a very aggressive strain of Cancer.

All of the pieces fell into place then. It explained why at 25 she was always tired for no reason. It explained the soreness of her body some days and her often irritability and mood swings. It also terrified the life out of me.

Luckily for us we had caught it early enough that the prognosis for her survival was good. She referred us to a cancer specialty facility, and set up an appointment for the very next day.

Ramona had a very long and relatively invasive battery of tests performed. I took leave from work and stayed with her the whole time. I was in the room with her holding her hand through every test, and cheering her up while we waited for each result.

Over the next few weeks Ramona had surgery to remove some of her lymph nodes and started a radiation therapy program. I stayed in the cancer center's family apartments so I could sleep (when I did sleep) right next door to her. I was there every morning when she awoke, and all day. I was even allowed to stay with her at night until she fell asleep. Her mother and sister visited occasionally, and were always cold to me. I think they thought that I had somehow given her cancer.

The radiation therapy didn't seem to be working, and was beginning to destroy healthy tissue as well as the cancerous growths so we dumped it in favor of chemo. Ramona lost about 40 pounds as a result of the radiation, and the chemo was probably going to take her hair.

The nurses in the facility had always been angels toward me, and they often went above and beyond the job to help me do things for Ramona. One nurse in particular was a godsend. Her name was Kelly, and she was beautiful. She was tall, and slim but curvy, with bright red hair and green eyes. She always had a smile or a joke for me every morning when I walked in. She was also there with a hug or a shoulder when I really needed help keeping my game-face on. Most of the nurses in the cancer ward worked 4 ten hour shifts and had 3 days off. Kelly worked from 10 at night until 8 in the morning. She was there when I left Ramona at night, and there when I got back at 6 the next a.m.

She was always cheerful, at least around me. The only time I remember her getting upset was once when she spoke to Ramona's mother Maddie.

Maddie had remarked about how I'd probably leave her daughter now that she was sick. Kelly lit into her, like I'd never seen, and threatened to throw her off the floor.

"This place is depressing as hell," she said. "Most of our patients have very few visitors, ever. Their family and friends stay away because they can't stand to see them or they're afraid the disease may be contagious," she continued. "That man never leaves her side. When she's sick, he's the one holding the bucket for her to vomit into, and cleaning her up afterwards. When have you been here?" she asked. "When she has to relieve herself, he walks her to the facilities and assists her. When have you been here?" she asked. "When she started losing her hair, he shaved his head so they could be alike," she laughed remembering my shiny pate. "When have you been here?" she asked irritably.

"He gives her sponge baths, so she can hold onto her dignity instead of having some stranger do it" she said. "When have you been here?" she asked again. "He's used up all of his vacation and sick time, her job's health care won't pay for the treatment, so he's going into debt up to his eyeballs for your daughter." she stated.

"And through it all, he's here every day, EVERY God damned DAY! Holding her hand and letting her know that someone loves her, no matter what," she snapped.

"The next thing you say to, or about that man will determine whether or not you're allowed back on this floor, so be careful," Kelly said pointing her long tapered finger in Maddie's face.

I wish that I could have been there to see it, but when I heard about it later I smiled a bit. The important thing to me though was that Ramona just got better. Several of the nurses told me about it, and were all equally pissed at Maddie. I did notice that Maddie was a lot less cold to me though after the fact. She actually reached out and patted my shoulder as I held Ramona's hand while she took her afternoon nap.

The chemo took a toll on Ramona and left her far weaker, but Cancer free. Her hair had started to grow back in and we started her on a new diet to help her get her strength back. She then needed several plastic surgeries to remove a lot of loose tissue which came as a result of her weight loss.

Ramona was a new woman. 80 pounds lighter and her skin had even cleared up. Ramona now wore contacts, instead of the glasses and her hair came back; everyone who knew her had to take a 2nd look. She wasn't a raving beauty like Kelly, but she was the best Ramona she could be, and I loved only her anyway. I went back to work, and had to work a lot more hours to pay for all of the medical expenses we incurred. Ramona couldn't go back to work for a while but we made out. Our sex life had always been great, since before we were even married, but now it increased as Ramona seemed determined to fuck me into submission to let me know how glad she was that I'd stayed by her during her illness. She started to go out with some of the girls from her old job, just to kill time while I worked. I was glad that she did, because outside of me she'd never really been a very social person. Now she seemed to need to get out and be seen by people. I guess I thought that it was some kind of affirmation of life, after the cancer and I didn't really take it seriously, but little did I know my marriage was on the rocks.

Over the next few weeks Ramona started coming home later and later. Sometimes she was drunk when she got in. "I've never had this much fun in my life," she said.

I felt kind of hurt because I was working 12 and 16 hour days to pay off our medical bills, and she was having fun without me. She started dressing far more revealingly than she ever had. When I asked her about it, she told me that she'd never had this kind of body before, and wanted to show it off. It was just fun. I wondered when it became necessary for her to show it off for people other than me.

I spent a lot of time thinking about our marriage that week. I guess in the back of my mind I was worried that something was going on. I didn't want to face it because by then, Ramona was my entire world. All of the things we'd gone through with the cancer and every thing else had forged our bond far deeper than ever before.

My hard work had produced benefits that I wasn't aware of though, all of my extra time and effort to try and put a dent in Ramona's medical expenses, had gotten me noticed by the owners of the company I worked for. I got a big raise and a promotion. I also got a bonus that I figured I could for once, use to go somewhere nice with my wife.

I didn't try to tell Ramona the good news I decided to throw a small, just family surprise party for her birthday which was the following week and tell her then. Maybe going away together would be just the thing to rekindle the flames and get us back on track.

The occurrences of the next few days broke my heart and killed our marriage.

Ramona went to the hospital for her usual check up; to make sure the cancer was still gone. They did a few tests and told her they'd be in touch with the results. On her way out Ramona ran into Kelly. Ramona had never liked Kelly because Kelly was beautiful, and she still saw herself as that fat girl. Even now that Ramona was thinner she knew that side by side, she couldn't hold a candle to Kelly.

"Hi Ramona," said Kelly, "It's so weird to see you without that cute husband of yours."

"What do you mean, I'm not without him," said Ramona. "He's just at work. Why are you asking about him anyway?"

"I didn't mean anything by it. It's just that you're really lucky to have someone who loves you that much," said Kelly. "Most of the guys out there are just after whatever they can get and some fun. That gets kind of empty after a while. If I had anyone look at me the way your husband looks at you," Kelly started before she was cut off.

"Yeah whatever," said Ramona.

Ramona knew that I would be stuck at work all day again and she just wanted to get back to doing something fun. So she headed for the bar she'd been at the night before, she could probably get a drink and be home before I got there.

As Ramona entered the bar a pair of hands grabbed her.

"Oh my God, I haven't seen you in at least a couple of years Ramona," It was Kathleen Kinnison, one of Ramona's old friends from college.

"What are you doing with yourself lately, you've lost a lot of weight I almost didn't recognize you," said Kathleen.

"How's that husband of yours?" she said

"Hi Kath," said Ramona, "I'm just hanging out and having some fun for once."

They went to a table and were soon joined by a group of guys. Ramona got up to dance with one of the guys and was going at it so heavily that she didn't notice when the door opened. All of the guys in the bar noticed when Kelly walked in the door. Ramona was too busy dancing to pay any attention. But Kelly had seen her, saw what she was doing and who she was doing it with. Kelly ordered a sandwich from the Bar's grill and went back to work with an idea in mind.

Over the next few days I, worked as hard as usual, and still found time to plan Ramona's surprise party. I'd invited her mother and sister, and a few of their friends.

I'd bought several presents for her, and was really hoping this party and trip would rekindle the sparks between us. I was pleasantly surprised when my mother in law volunteered to help me decorate the apartment before the party. During Ramona's hospital stay we had bonded a bit, and maybe she didn't love me, but she respected my love for her daughter and accepted me.

Over the next few days I noticed a pattern. Ramona was always gone out by the time I got home, and never came in until very late. Our once robust sex life had also dwindled. I couldn't remember the last time we'd done anything. Women were hitting on me constantly, as if they could smell my need for release.

As I got home from work one evening, the phone rang.

"Hi Brad, this is Kelly," she said.

"Hi Kelly, do you have Ramona's test results?" I asked

"Nope, not until tomorrow but I need to talk to you about something," she said. "It's kind of important, could you meet me somewhere? I promise it won't take long."

"How about the park across the street from the hospital," I suggested.

Kelly thought about it, and agreed. "I can be there in 20 minutes if that's OK."

"I'll see you there," I said.

Kelly wondered if the park was the best place for the meeting. She had gone there with Brad several times during Ramona's hospitalization to try and cheer him up. They'd had a few impromptu meals while Ramona underwent procedures that he couldn't be present for. It was also the place where she'd told him that the chemo was showing progress, so it was a place filled with happy memories for him and she didn't want to ruin it for him.

I sat down on the small bench in the park next to Kelly. I smiled at her and said, "What's up? "Am I behind on my payments? Ramona's not sick again is she?" I asked.

"Yeah, she's sick again, but it's not cancer," said Kelly

Over the next few minutes, Kelly told me about the places she'd seen my wife lately. She told me about the things she'd seen her do. She even told me about some of the guys she'd seen her with.

"I don't have photos or anything, but it's pretty clear she's cheating on you," she said.

"Kelly, you're a great nurse, and up until now I thought you were a great person too. Ramona would never do that, she loves me," I said, though I didn't believe the words as I said them.

"I'm sorry, to be the one to tell you, but you need to be careful," said Kelly. "I just hate the thought of her doing this to you."

"I don't believe she is doing anything," I snapped. "And all you have is some vague suspicion. No evidence. No proof. Maybe you should just mind your own business!"

I got up and started to leave, but Kelly grabbed my arm. She gently put her hand up and touched my cheek. For some reason, I was frozen in my tracks and my building anger dissipated.

"For your sake," said Kelly softly," I hope I am wrong. It kills me to think of you going through all of this pain for someone who isn't worth your little finger." She gently rubbed my cheek and I swear I felt electricity.

"Whenever you need a friend, I'll be there," she said as she pressed a card into my hand, and then walked away.

I stuffed the card into my pocket, and watched Kelly walk. It had been a while since me and Ramona had done anything, and I was as hard as a steel rod watching Kelly's ass.

That went better than I expected, thought Kelly. If she gave him too much too soon, it would hurt him worse than she'd planned. Better to have a couple of little shocks, than one big devastating blow. She would never do anything to hurt Brad, for any reason, but he had to know about his cheating wife.

Kelly couldn't remember exactly when it was, that she had fallen in love with Brad, it really no longer mattered. It was probably during the time she spent watching him come to the hospital everyday, no matter what to care for Ramona. Or after she started to recover and began treating him as if he was her butler, instead of her husband who' had just endured months of sacrificing everything in his life to be with her.

Kelly knew that she was beautiful, she'd heard it all her life. She'd been with lots of guys, but never one who treated her with anywhere near, the degree of love and affection Brad showed Ramona. She couldn't think of anything she wouldn't give to have someone like that in her life. She was ready for step 2 or her plan.

When I got home 2 nights later I was charged up. The party, though small, would be the start of my quest to rekindle my romantic flames with Ramona. Over the past few days I'd paid more attention to what was going on with us and found her to be distant and drinking far too much. When I finally did go to sleep she was never there. When I awoke she was already asleep. She'd smiled and rolled over when I told her I was planning something special for her birthday.

I knew that she was perhaps drinking and partying a bit much but this was Ramona after all. When we first met she was anti party. She was just trying to experience some of the things that "fat dumpy" Ramona never got to. She was also celebrating the success in her battle against cancer. I just wished that she would celebrate with me; but maybe I was just being selfish

Ramona's mother Maddie arrived at 6:30 with her other daughter, Ravonna. They began decorating the house, and worked quickly because they knew she'd be there at any moment. There were only 6 other people invited, because I wanted a small intimate get together with a few close friends. By 9 p.m. everyone was wondering where Ramona was and a few of the guests had left their presents and gone home. By 11 p.m. Maddie, Ravonna and I were the only ones there. I called Ramona's cell phone for the 4th time to find out where she was.

Ramona called back a half hour later.

"Hi Honey, I'll be home soon," said Ramona sounding drunk and out of breath.

"Where are you?" I asked.

"My mom wanted to take me out for a drink, and I figured I'd go out with her for a while, instead of coming home. We lost track of time," she said. "Actually I came out with her and my snotty sister, because they still don't like you much and I didn't want their bad attitude to ruin whatever surprise, you have for me," she said. I heard a guy asking her in the background to hurry up back, so they could have some fun.

"Anyway, I'll see you in a bit, so you can give me my surprise," she continued. "Is it a big surprise?" she asked

"Kind of," I said softly.

For a while no one said anything. Then Maddie looked at me. She could see that I was fighting not to cry in front of her. I was shattered. It was as if my whole world had come to an end and I didn't know exactly how to react.

"You know that isn't really true," said Maddie.

"Well, maybe in the beginning, I thought that you were just wrong for Ramona, but that's no longer the case," she said.

"What a bitch," said Ravonna.

"Well thank you ladies very much for coming," I said.

"I'm going to clean up, this mess and put Ramona's presents away," I said. "I'm sure she'll be home soon. You can stay for as long as you'd like but I'm not sure it would be good for you to be here when she gets home." I said.

"Why not?" asked Ravonna, "As her snotty sister, I'd love to see her reaction, when she walks in and gets caught in her damned lie."

"She went through a horrible ordeal, with the cancer," I told her, "None of us know what that was like or what it did to her. All we can do is be there for her and hope this is only a phase." I said quietly. Both Maddie and Ravonna shook their heads as they left.

I went to my closet and started packing my clothes and some personal items. It didn't take me very long to pack, so I left a note for Ramona on their kitchen table. I packed as many things as I could so I wouldn't have to return for a while.

The next day, I looked for divorce lawyers, while I was at work. I found several listings on the internet but didn't call any of them. I barely spoke to anyone and all of my colleagues thought I must have been fighting off a bug or the flu. Ramona called my cell phone a couple of times and left messages, but I didn't return them.

I followed the same pattern for three days. Go to work. Go home to the motel room I was staying in. Sleep, get up then repeat.

On the third day Kelly was sitting on the hood of my car as I left the building.

She was on the verge of tears, and I didn't know why.

"Why the hell didn't you call me?" she asked.

I didn't answer, I just looked at her, and the wall I'd been putting up to shut off my emotions collapsed. As the tears ran down my cheeks, I quietly said, "you were right."

Kelly jumped off the car and hugged me. I felt like a pervert for noticing the way her breasts smashed against my chest.

"I didn't want to be," she said.

Ramona looked around her apartment. Her head was killing her.

"What day is it?" she wondered. Brad needed to clean this fucking place up when he got home. Why wasn't he home already? What was that banging? She stood up and toddled naked to the door and looked out the peephole. Ugh, it was her mother. She grabbed a dressing gown and opened the door.

"Forgive the mess mother," she said.

"My husband is kind of falling down on the job," she continued

"Ramona where have you been and what have you been doing?" asked Maddie.

"Or who have you been doing from the looks of you," she continued.

"Mother, what are you talking about?" asked Ramona irritably.

"Ramona, why do you have bite marks on your leg?" asked Maddie.

"Oh shit I'd better not let Brad see that," said Ramona.

"Mother can you get me some coffee, my head is splitting?" she asked

Maddie grudgingly went into the kitchen and started to make coffee.

"So how did you cover up your lie, the other night?" Maddie asked.

"What lie mother?" asked Ramona.

"The lie you told your husband, the night of your birthday party," said Maddie.

"Ramona when you told him that you were with me and your sister, we were standing here next to him at the time," said Maddie

Ramona's eyes snapped open, "What?" she said. "I'd better figure out something to say before he gets home," she said. "You've got to help me come up with a plan, mother."

"Why should I?" asked Maddie.

"Mother, I realize that I've been doing some things that I shouldn't have," she said.

"But it was all just for fun. I just wanted a chance to do things, and try things that I never did when I was younger," she said. "When I was younger, I was Fat Ramona, always the hot girl's fat friend, never the one they wanted," she said. "Then I met Brad, and everything changed" she said. "I became more confident. I dressed better, because to him, I was the hot girl. But I was only the hot girl to him. And only because he loves me," she said."But now with all of the weight I lost I started getting attention from more guys, and it's refreshing," she said. "Now I can play with them for a while, and dump them, when I want." she said. "Now I'm the one with the choice, and its fun," she said."It's not a serious thing; I'd never really leave Brad, because I love him. I'm just having fun for just a while," she said. "But you said it yourself, mother, he's kind of ordinary and boring. And Brad will never find out anyway," she said. "He's always working anyway," she continued. "He'd better step up his game or he might just lose me. Just like right now, he should be home by now," she said