They said we are coming

That phone call at six in the morning. You couldn’t finish the sentence. They said we’re coming. They didn’t ask anything else and you didn’t explain.

Friendships know which road to take and they know that sign always points the wrong way. They know where you stop to eat.

Things you learned together a long time ago and nobody needs to say anymore.

You hadn’t seen them in five years. Maybe ten. You never bothered counting.

They stayed four days and you tried to fill every hour.

You took them to the spot by the sea only you know.

To the place that makes one thing and makes it well.

You got up early to be where the sun arrives first.

You wanted them to see everything, as if four days could be enough.

One evening you sat and watched the sun go down. Twenty minutes without a word. And that was fine.

This morning the bag was already in the boot and the coffee was left half finished on the table.

The train is standing at the platform. They hug you and say see you soon, but none of you knows when. You stay there until you lose sight of them in the crowd, then you wait for the doors to close.

You go home. The cup is still on the table, the bed unmade, a sweatshirt forgotten on the chair.

Your heart tightens a little.

Then you wash the cup and leave it there to dry. Waiting for the next coffee.