Her number remains in my contact list    stored as a favorite
Text messages exchanged  between a mother and daughter
Peppered with a waggish meme or two
Phone calls made just to say I love you
Or to share something
That pained me    tête-à-tête  

Phone clutched in the palm of my hand
I stare at the picture next to her name  
Her hair      black ink with silvery highlights
Mine now salt and pepper like hers  
I toss my head back
Laughter erupts from my throat
As I recall a younger me telling her
I won’t go gray gracefully    I am going to fight it
It’s going to fight you back   she quipped  

It’s been 2,746 days
Without a phone call
Without a text message
Without us saying     I love you
Yet her name remains in my contacts    starred