DOLLHOUSE CHRONICLES
POESY
He Said She Said
HE: It was so great seeing you at our college reunion. It’s been a long time. Too long.
SHE: Yeah, I’d categorize 48 years as more than just a long time.
HE: There were things I wanted to say, but my girlfriend was there, so…
SHE: Whatever needed to be said should have been said a long time ago.
HE: I know. And I’m so sorry for that.
SHE: No biggie.
HE: I do think about you. We were so young.
SHE: Not that young. We were both 22, and I had high hopes for us.
HE: Me as well.
SHE: We got along really well. I don’t think we ever fought.
HE: We never fought. And my mom loved you.
SHE: Your mom was wonderful. And your sister. She loved me too, LOL.
HE: My sister cried because she loved you so much. She said…” You’ll never find a girl like that again.” She was right. I’m listening to James Taylor…Secret of Life.
SHE: Aw, that makes me sad to think I was loved by them but not you.
HE: I never stopped loving you. And you are as beautiful as you were back then. I was a jerk.
SHE: LOL, thanks, but I’m old as dirt now.
HE: We’re all hanging in there.
SHE: Yeah, hanging by a thread.
HE: Hopefully not by a thread. I’ve had cancer for the last four years, but I seem to be winning so far.
SHE: Urgh. I’m so sorry.
HE: I have renal cell cancer—stage 4. I almost died when I was first diagnosed. I’m on chemo pills now, and they are keeping it at bay. I hope.
SHE: That doesn’t sound good.
HE: By the way, I enjoyed your explanation on Facebook as to why your husband finally voted Republican!! And I saw a pic of your daughter…beautiful like you.
SHE: Yeah, I was mad at him at first, but now I get it. And thank you. My daughter is my heart.
HE: I hope this doesn’t make you uncomfortable, but I’ve thought about you for over 50 years. I tried to find you, I really did. I wish we were sitting by a fireplace in Tahoe, so I could tell you everything I’m feeling, but life isn’t always what you wish sometimes.
SHE: I don’t ski, LOL.
HE: I have two songs that every time I hear them, I think of you—Stairway to Heaven and Hello.
SHE: Stairway to Heaven, yes, that was our song, although I never understood the words. Hello came way later.
HE: Okay, beautiful. I must go to bed. I’m always sad that you and I ended the way we shouldn’t have. But so is life. Please stay in touch.
SHE: Maybe we’ll see each other at the next reunion.
HE: I would like that. I’m not looking for a reply from you, or maybe I am. When we first met at the fountain during fraternity rush, I’ll never forget how you said goodbye. You gave me chills when you kissed your fingers and then gently touched my cheek with them. I screwed up. I live with that now. We could have had an incredible life. We should never have let each other go.
SHE: My reply is best said in a poem:
I was madly in love, so no,
under any other circumstances,
I would have never let you go.
It was only because
when I needed you the most
you were a shameful no-show.
HE: I was an idiot and immature. I wish I could turn back time. I am disgusted with myself. I am so sorry. I’m about to puke. That was the biggest mistake in my life. I wish I could go back. I drove to Miami trying to find you. I went looking for you, but I had no idea where you were. But I really wanted to find you.
SHE: I’m not sure what has prompted all this looking back, but it is what it is.
HE: I suppose it is. Anyway, good night, and sweet dreams.
COLLEGE FRIEND TWO WEEKS LATER: Hey. I’m sorry to tell you this, but HE passed away this morning. I’m sure HE would have wanted you to know.