We have a regular weekly call my friend and I
Just chatting about whatever comes up
Just happy for our lives to continue along for now
Making the most of our remaining days
But this week I could not reach him
Because his phone is out of service range
While he's away on an extended trip
Leaving me here missing his voice
Being unreachable is not yet permanent
And I am surely not ready for that finality
But it's never far from our thoughts he and I
Sharing the same serious diagnosis and surgery
Both found to have prostate cancer some years ago
But his disease got into his bones and mine did not
So his progression looms over our conversations
Kept in check for seven years and counting
I listen when he says he holds out hope for a cure
Something his doctor tells him is still possible
And from my fortunate position I set aside his chances
Supportive that he's not resigned to the inevitable
Our phone call is a necessary lifeline I need
Something I asked for that he does for me
To reassure me that we have more time left together
Though today I hear nothing but the silence waiting
