Hello again. Or is this the beginning of a goodbye!
Have a seat, have a seat. You certainly were never the type to wear a coat. A clever way to skip formalities.
Well, yes, I am a little surprised you bothered to drop by. Visiting this part of town after all you’ve seen and done… I’m not sure what fondness you find in the old neighborhood.
And before you ask me why I never left, as you usually do, I can only repeat what I always repeat and so ensues:
Didn’t know where to go! A dysfunctional compass in this body compared to yours. Did you find your North Pole? Mine just keeps spinning, whether you’re in Munich or Budapest into Moscow with Shenzhen and Singapore between. Clouds you surf through, plane engines to dice it along your window seat view. No, no way my compass will lead to such things.
I could never understand it. Though a sliver of understanding may be found in my imitations – at times I mimick your flight paths roaming the home. Each room a city, and my mind fills in the street vendors, the pigeons, the petite barbershop sign striking against white bricks. Just like your photographs, however long ago. Was it that long ago?
Has it been years, or only a couple of weeks? Not that it makes any difference.
So, what brings you here?
…Just a chat? Nothing else?
I never understood that either! Surely there’s something on your mind. Tell me about your last travels.
…You don’t want to? Why not? There’s no need to look so glum. What happened?
I happened? I’m not sure I understand. We never were particularly close… neighbors adjacent along school desks too, sure. But you had your groups and I had mine! And with age we drifted, small visits then. You grew beyond this here cul-de-sac. I remember your rants about how boring smalltown living is, as we walked from school. I figured you never liked it here. And so you got your break, you traveled the seas. Surely it was not all in vain!
Why don’t I leave my home? But I already tol-
Why didn’t I go with you? I don’t remember being invited… What difference does it make whether I went or not? There’s no need to look so pained, why do you?
It’s been thirty years? What do you mean? I thought you left five years ago. You do certainly look a bit older, but I didn’t want to comment.
I… forgotten? What did I forget?
Why are you crying? Our anniversary…?