The Day I Screened My Calls

A poem

He called me on a Wednesday, I replied, “I will contact you soon.” Aware of his need for empathy My guilt began to loom.

His name, it does not matter, A classmate from childhood days I actually do not remember him Perhaps, that was the barrier I raised.

He said that we could talk another day But he conveyed again what I knew He had reached his limit for what tomorrow brings For some, each day is not new.

His life had turned into moments Where he waited for relief As his symptoms worsened slowly His hope turned into grief.

I called him on a Saturday, He had unblocked all calls for me But answer did he not So I waited graciously.

Two hours passed by quickly Social media beckoned me for a scroll Alas, a friend sent me a message, He crashed into a pole.

No one is promised tomorrow We hear it all the time But the death of my new friend Weighs heavy on my mind.

Maybe God had shortened his life So he could avoid his dying mind But my heart weighs heavy today For the life, he left behind.