it was an accidental call
that forced him
through a conversation
that went on too long
both of us trying
to reach the end of it

the best thing
it did
was remind me 
that I wasn’t part
of his life once
just some illusion
that guilt pushed 
both of us to do
because a father
is supposed to love
his son

a strang relief
came
with that goodbye
and the lie we 
always told one another
“I’ll talk to you later”