A couple of breaths in the night

And then the abrupt phone call.

"hey"

That raspy hey coming over the phone is all that takes to jerk my heartstrings awake. I remember you used to tell me you liked my hey, especially in the morning when I wake next to you, and you're already up, looking at me, not wanting to wake me, I smiled and said a raspy hey. So several years of raspy heys later, I wait for one phone call a day just to hear your raspy hey.

So I lay on my bed, phone in hand curled up to my chest under my chin, and wonder why you didn't call.

Is it harder to count on someone or to be the one counted on?
If equal affection cannot be,
then let the more loving one be me.