In my younger days, I had a dear friend with whom I shared a cherished tradition: we would telephone each other every weekend to catch up and share news. He still lived in a small English village, worked tirelessly, and led a rather solitary lifewithout family or close friends. I made sure to stay in touch with him, even as the years slipped by.
About two months ago, he stopped picking up my calls. First once, then again, and a third timeeach occasion I told myself he must be busy. As the second month passed, I became genuinely worried. But then I thought, he was only fortysurely nothing serious could have happened. Perhaps he simply found my calls tiresome. Just in case, I left him a message on his voicemail.
“Hello there. Its been a while since you answered your phone. How are you? Listen, my children are driving me mad. My daughter refuses to apply to universityI dont know what to do with her lately And Im swamped with paperwork”
Later, I sent another message:
“You havent changed your number, have you? It would be terribly embarrassing if Im sending texts to the wrong person. My daughter promises she will go to university, honestly. And Julias so wrapped up in her family life nowadays, never any time for her parents. I wish I could visit youdidnt we used to go fishing and have barbecues? Ring me, perhaps we could see each other.”
Nearly two months went by before I recorded one final message:
“Im anxiously waiting for word from you. Im truly worried now. Youve never disappeared like this before. Did you move abroad without telling your old friend? I miss our conversations, you know. I keep hoping well go fishing like we used to, all those years ago. Please, call me soon.”
The next time I rang, a woman answered.
“Hes not been here for two months,” she told me. “His heart simply stopped. The council arranged his burial. I only just found his phone in the house. Are you a relative?”
Her words blurred my vision with tears. I hadnt even considered such dreadful possibilitiesI didnt realise I had lost my friend some time ago.
I could not bring myself to return to my childhood village to say goodbye.
