The Unknown Friend by Avrel F.
The yellow telephone sits on the table
Its jarring ring reminds me I should dial the number
That is neatly taped on the bulletin board
Its edges clean and flat
As if it has never been touched
It hasn’t
With each day it becomes even more inconceivable
To call a number that promises disappointment
My long silence serves no purpose besides
Saving myself from the embarrassment
Of “ you said you would call” and “oh I forgot”
But did I just forget?
Because anger wells up inside me whenever I hear your name
The way my trust was stretched like a rope
But it finally frayed
Your forceful apologies are produced in factories
Practiced, unoriginal and constantly coming
I pick up the phone to tell you my thoughts
But the dial tone singing reminds me
That I am worth more than this
You tried to fill me with empty sincerity
You desperately need others’ empathy
But selfishness crowds up the part of your heart
That is meant for kindness
You don’t understand my distance
But no number sitting on the bulletin board will fix that
I said I would call but I didn’t
So the yellow telephone sits on the table
And I am okay with that